POMONA, Calif. – Point Loma broke out of an early scoring slump in a big way in the second match of the season to earn a 3-3 draw against Cal Poly Pomona at Kellogg Stadium on Saturday evening.
 
Including the Sea Lions' two preseason exhibitions, Point Loma scored just one goal in the first three matches of the year, but that slow offensive start ended with three goals on Saturday in a battle of two teams that received votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason rankings.
 
Both teams, ranked second in the preseason polls of their respective conferences, were looking to recover from one-goal losses in their respective season openers on Thursday, and now both teams have a 0-1-1 record at the conclusion of the first weekend of the 2021 season.
 
"We are just getting used to the season and getting used to the competitive level," head coach Phil Wolf said. "It's been a while since they've really played in games like this. It's about getting better every day."
 
Point Loma never trailed in the match and led 3-1 with 28 minutes left after Corey Lundeen scored two goals in the second half. However, in a span of just four minutes, that lead disappeared with Cal Poly Pomona scoring on a penalty kick four minutes before getting the equalizer from the right side of the box in the 67^th minute.
 
"Corey has had two fantastic performances," Wolf said. "He's got such a good engine, and if he can start adding goals, he's going to have a special year."
 
The Broncos continued to create scoring opportunities in the final 20 minutes of regulation, but the Sea Lions held them off to preserve the tie going into the two extra periods. Both teams had chances to score during the 20 extra minutes, but neither team added another goal. With 25 seconds left in the second overtime period, Seth Ketterer saved a shot from right in front of the net with his legs, knocking the ball out of bounds. Time ran out as Cal Poly Pomona sent the ball into play on a final corner kick, concluding the tie.
 
"Seth's not one to give up three goals," Wolf said, "but they're a good group. He was a bit shaky on corners, but he made a big save right at the end, and he's a very good goalkeeper."
 
It is the first time since 2003 that Point Loma has earned a point against Cal Poly Pomona, and the first time the Sea Lions have scored three goals against the Broncos since 2002. Cal Poly Pomona outshot Point Loma 24-13
 
Teague Anderson scored the Sea Lions' first goal of the season in the 10^th minute of the match. He got the ball at the top of the box with only the keeper in front of him. Anderson's first shot went off the goalkeeper's chest, and Anderson was the first to get to the loose ball and he shot immediately into the right side of the net to take a 1-0 lead.
 
That lead held until the final minute of the first half, when Cal Poly Pomona's Max Laguna scored with only four seconds left to end the period tied, 1-1. The ball remained in the Broncos' offensive half of the pitch for most of the second half, but Point Loma created several counterattacks and managed to score twice in a row early in the second half with both goals being scored by Lundeen.
 
Austin Lavell assisted the first of those two goals as Lundeen shot from the top of the box early in the second half to regain the lead. Then in the 56th minute, the Sea Lions dribbled into the box and took a shot that was blocked with the left hand of a Broncos defender, giving Point Loma a penalty kick. Lundeen took the penalty and kicked it low to the left, while the goalkeeper dove right for the easy goal.
 
Just seven minutes later, the head official called a foul in the box on the Sea Lions, gifting the Broncos a penalty kick of their own. Then for the second time of the night, Cal Poly Pomona scored on a corner kick with Pele Martinez, tying the score, 3-3.
 
"When you're up 3-1, and I thought it was a really soft penalty for their second goal, you're disappointed to not get full points," Wolf said, "but for anyone that watched that, I think a 3-3 draw was probably a fair result. I'm proud of the guys that battled."
 
Point Loma will have one week to prepare for another big challenge as the Sea Lions play No. 7 Cal State San Bernardino next Saturday at PLNU Soccer Field. The Coyotes were runner-up in the West Super Regional in 2019. That match will begin at noon.