HILO, Hawaii - On a rainy and windy night, it was the precise kicks of Fabian Lueders and the hustle play of Parker Scalzo which helped the Point Loma men's soccer team earn a 3-2 win at Hawaii Hilo, and complete an undefeated trip to the Islands.
 
Fabian Lueders posted his first career goal in the 11th minute on a free kick after Indiana Fuller was dragged down near the top of the box. Lueders took the free kick and was able to avoid the wall and the outstretched hands of the goalie to find the back of the net. Just eight seconds after that goal, Hawaii Hilo's Jack Stonehouse would receive a red card, giving PLNU the one-man advantage the rest of the way.
 
The Vulcans would earn a penalty kick in the 15th minute and Matt Wilkinson deposited it into the net to even the score at 1-1, where it would remain until halftime.
 
Lueders would put Point Loma back in front in the 57th minute on a beautiful free kick from the endline, which he bent around the post and into the goal for his second score of the match. Parker Scalzo added another goal for Point Loma in the 68th minute when he beat his defender of the right side and fired a shot past the keeper for his fifth goal of the season.
 
Hawaii Hilo would earn another penalty kick in the 86th minute to cut the Sea Lions' lead to 3-2. The Vulcans would have one more look to tie the match in the 90th minute but Wiktor Lasota denied Alen Acosta's shot to preserve the victory.
 
That was the fifth save of the night for Lasota. His counterpart, Selvin Sandoval, made 10 save for the Vulcans.
 
Team records
Point Loma (10-5-1, 6-2-1 PacWest), Hawaii Hilo (3-10-0, 2-6-0 PacWest)
 
PacWest implications
The win moves the Sea Lions (19 points) to within two points of first-place Azusa Pacific. However, PLNU has played two more matches than both APU and third-place Fresno Pacific (15 points). The loss leaves the Vulcans with six points in PacWest play.
 
Words from coach Wolf
On going 2-0-1 in Hawaii: "Overall it was a pretty successful trip. At this point in the season we can't afford to drop anything, and even though we didn't get full points on the trip, considering the circumstances in Hawaii, it was a positive trip."
 
On the pair of goals by Fabian Lueders: "He hit a couple of free kicks that were fantastic. He did a great job and scored a couple of big goals. He got a couple of goals near the end of his time here so I am very happy for him."
 
On the defense: "I don't think we are defending great right now but this year is about finding a way to get a result. We are conceding too much and are having to score too much, but we are finding a way to win the games. It may not be exactly the way you would draw it up but at this point it doesn't matter. We have to find ways to win games."
 
On the upcoming Senior Day match versus Biola: "This is a special group. They took our team to a place it had not been in a long, long time. I am looking forward to this match. Hopefully they can go out in style. It has a privilege to coach them all."
 
Scoring Summary
10:20 - PLNU Goal: Fabian Lueders (free kick) [PLNU 1, UHH]
14:24 - UHH Goal: Matt Wilkinson (penalty kick) [PLNU 1, UHH 1]
56:40 - PLNU Goal: Fabian Lueders (free kick) [PLNU 2, UHH 1]
67:21 - PLNU Goal: Parker Scalzo (free kick) [PLNU 3, UHH 1]
85:46 - UHH Goal: Matt Wilkinson (penalty kick) [PLNU 3, UHH 2]
 
News and notes
> PLNU is unbeaten in its last five matches
> Point Loma's last loss in Hawaii came on Oct. 4, 2014
> The Sea Lions were unbeaten in their previous 10 matches in Hawaii (7-0-3)
> Scalzo has scored five goals on just 10 total shots (six on goal)
> Scalzo has five goals in his last five matches, all while coming off the bench
 
Next match
The Point Loma men's soccer team will return home to host Biola in its Senior Day match on Monday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will be held prior to the match.