SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's soccer team scored three second-half goals in a 15 minute span to defeat California Baptist, 3-0, all while earning their second straight shutout (Oct. 3).
 
PLNU has now won back-to-back matches for the first time this season and evened their record at 3-3-1 (2-1-0). CBU falls back to even in the PacWest at 2-2-0 (3-5-1 overall).
 
Andrew Ritchie broke the scoreless tie with his first goal of the year in the 72nd minute on a shot from 10-yards out off an assist from Daniel ten Bosch. Nico Tagaloa tacked on an insurance goal four minutes later on an unassisted shot from 18 yards out off a deflection.
 
Manu Montal put the game away by converting on a penalty kick in the 87th minute after Indiana Fuller was dragged to the ground in inside the box.
 
The late onslaught by Point Loma was not an accident. Coach Wolf rested many of his starting players through halftime because PLNU was just coming off its first-ever home match under the lights on Thursday.
 
"I don't think that was a 3-0 game," said PLNU head coach Phil Wolf. "It was very tight for the first 70 minutes. Once we took the first chance more came."
 
"I made a mistake against Cal Poly Pomona when I didn't rotate the team, and they were tired and we got beat," he added. "I learned my lesson and rotated the guys against Sonoma and today. The game is just not meant to be played twice in three days."
 
That strategy clearly worked as PLNU hung with them stat-wise for the early part of the game then outplayed them in the second half where it outshot CBU 9-6, and the Lancers failed to save any of the Sea Lions' three shots on goal.
 
"Once we hit the 60-minute mark I thought we were clearly the better team," Wolf said after the game. "We need 17, 18, 19 good players and that is the challenge at this level. I am so proud of the way we ended but so proud of the first group as well. We had some guys on the field that hadn't played many minutes this year and they played against a very good California Baptist team and held their own."
 
The Sea Lions defense would confidently help to put the game away after the penalty kick. Goal keeper Michael Lambert and the back four earned their shutout with Lambert making three saves throughout the match, two of which were direct shots on goal from less than 20 yards out.
 
"I know on paper we have the quality and to do well this season but so far it has not come easy for us," added Wolf. "We feel good that we did have the quality to beat APU and CBU but we have Hawaii Pacific and Fresno Pacific coming up on our schedule and it doesn't get easier."
 
Point Loma will welcome in Hawaii Pacific (4-2-1, 2-0-1 PacWest) on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m.