SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's soccer team walked away from the PLNU Soccer Field with a tie against No. 20 Sonoma State, but they wanted much more from the match than the 1-1 result (Sept. 12).
 
Sonoma State (3-0-1) entered the match rolling with three straight victories and outscoring their opponents 9-1. PLNU (1-2-1) conceded the early goal but stayed in the match and tied it up on a penalty kick by Manu Montal in the 65th minute.
 
On the play going into the penalty kick, SSU had its second student-athlete of the half receive a red card, reducing their players on the field to nine. But despite that 11-9 player advantage, and 15 shots over the final 45 minutes of the match, PLNU could not find the back of the net and the match ended in a tie.  
 
The match began uniquely with Point Loma resting many of its normal starters. Sonoma State took the lead in the 21st minute when Michel Arroyo and Armando Coronel paired up to assist goal-scorer Brenton Frame who's well-placed shot evaded the hands of PLNU goalkeeper Avrin Yakou.  
 
After the first half, the Sea Lions would send in their regular starters and the pace of the game picked up. Junior Nico Tagaloa would break through the back line and take a shot on SSU's goal keeper Mitch North but hit it sailed wide Tagaloa would see two more opportunities similar to his first chance and hit both over the crossbar.
 
That basically summed up the afternoon for PLNU.
 
"Their keeper made some really nice saves when they needed them," Wolf explained, "but we still missed the frame too much on full chances. We had some good full chance looks that we just didn't get on frame."
 
Despite the multiple looks for PLNU, the score would not change again as the two sides entered two 10-minute overtime periods. The Sea Lions would keep on the attack in both halves but the solid, organized defensive play by the Sea Wolves led by North would keep the ball out of the net.
 
The match ended with PLNU outshooting SSU 25-8 and having 13 corner kicks to their one. Despite three corners and 25 shots for the Sea Lions by the game's conclusion, the Sea Lions would have to settle for the tie.
 
"It was a game of negatives and positives," said Wolf. "I was super happy with our first group that started today. They did really well in the first and our plan worked perfectly.
 
"The red cards were a large part of that match but even without them we would have got some good looks in the second half," Wolf continued. "I'm disappointed in the result. The wood is very thick on the door to winning and we need to break in. We have to keep grinding as a group and believe it is going to turn for us.
 
"We are at least on even terms with all the CCAA teams we have been playing, but the result is everything and we haven't done the things we need to get results," he continued. "Player for player, pass for pass, shot for shot we are at least on even terms will all the teams we have played. We don't know when it is going to turn but we know it is going to turn and we are hopeful we have the group of guys that can do it."
 
The PLNU men's soccer team will face UC San Diego away on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7:00 p.m. for just their second away game this season.