ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ falls to No. 16 Cal State San Bernardino

  • October 3, 2010

HAYWARD, Calif. - Playing down a man for the final 42 minutes of the match, the ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ men's soccer team could not overcome two second-half goals from No. 16 Cal State San Bernardino in a 3-1 loss to the Coyotes on Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Stadium. The Pioneers (2-7-2, 1-5-2 CCAA) came from behind to score a short-handed goal in the second frame, but could not match San Bernardino's Obi Agwu, who posted a hat trick in the match.

"We worked very hard for 90 minutes, the guys on the field did their best," CSUEB Head Coach Andy Cumbo said. "Unfortunately, we are not good enough to beat San Bernardino while we play a man down for 42 minutes. They are a very good team."

San Bernardino took an early lead on Agwu’s first of three goals on the day in the 17th minute. After Martin Esqueda played the ball in for Agwu, he sent his low, hard shot into the back of the net from about eight yards out past CSUEB keeper Bryce Bookhamer.

Leading 1-0, the Coyotes controlled possession, drawing 11 Pioneer fouls in the first half and out-shooting East Bay 7-1 in the opening 45 minutes. Bookhamer needed three saves to keep the game within reach, as the Pioneers headed to the locker room trailing by a goal at the half.

With San Bernardino holding onto its 1-0 lead, East Bay suffered a blow just six minutes into the second half, as freshman defender Spencer Ford was sent off after receiving his second yellow card of the match, leaving the Pioneers down a man for the final 42 minutes.

Despite the loss, ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ maintained focus and put pressure on the Cal State San Bernardino defense leading up to the tying goal in the 54th minute. The goal came after the Pioneers won a corner kick which sophomore Michael Dowson put into the box, finding Josh Alvarez, whose header beat Coyote keeper Arath De La Rocha to tie the match, 1-1.

Cal State San Bernardino responded with 10 unanswered shots, leading up to Agwu’s second goal of the game in the 77th minute. The score gave the Coyotes back a one-goal lead and became the eventual game winner.

Trailing 2-1, ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ answered with several counter attacks, including an 82nd minute header by freshman Paul Dewhurst that forced a De La Rocha save. The push from the Pioneers, however, brought on Agwu’s third goal, coming in the 83rd minute. After Esqueda had his shot cleared off the line by the Pioneer defense, Agwu cleaned up the rebound to put the Coytoes up 3-1.

Despite one final push from the Pioneers, San Bernardino held on to pick up the win. De La Rocha made two saves in the victory, facing 10 East Bay shots, led by Dowson and Alvarez’ two strikes apiece. On the other end, Bookhamer followed up his 18-save performance from Friday with another 11 saves on 26 shots. Albert Cabrera paced all players with eight shots for San Bernardino.

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ takes a break from conference play on Tuesday as it plays host to Notre Dame de Namur at Pioneer Stadium at 7 p.m. East Bay then hits the road next weekend, as it opens the second half of the CCAA season. The Pioneers are set to meet Cal State LA at Jesse Owens Stadium on Oct. 8, before heading to Carson to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills on Oct. 10.