Men's Soccer at Westmont

Sea Lions Slip In Santa Barbara

The PLNU men's soccer team dropped to 3-8 overall and 2-5 in Golden State Athletic Conference play after losing at Westmont's Lovik Field, 3-1 on Saturday. Erick Melendez scored the lone goal for the Sea Lions.

The Warriors improved to 5-5 overall 3-3 GSAC with the win.

PLNU struck first when Melendez recorded his second goal of the year in the 26th minute of action. The score was unassisted.

The two conference foes headed into the break with the Sea Lions holding onto the slim 1-0 advantage. That lead was partly because of a save on a penalty kick by keeper Eric Laboffe. But it didn't that long for Westmont to even the match. Five minutes in the second, Dillon Barna headed in a throw in to make the score 1-1.

WC took the lead for good in the 67th minute when Doug Herrell found pay dirt on a ball that was deflected off a PLNU player.

The Warriors added a late insurance goal in the last minute of play when Hugo Pizano hammered in a shot from behind the midfield line that bounced into the unguarded Sea Lion net. Trailing by one at that time, PLNU had sent its keeper out in an attempt to generate more offensive opportunities.

An even match statistically, WC took 14 shots, seven on goal, to 13 and five, respectively from PLNU. Warrior keeper Matthew McNab and Sea Lion goal minder Eric Leboffe each made four saves.

The conference contest was much cleaner for PLNU than their recent tilts. Only 13 total fouls were called, none of which were cards.

The Sea Lions will be at Vanguard this Tuesday, starting at 3:00 pm.

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