(SAN DIEGO) An early penalty kick goal in just the second minute sent PLNU Men's Soccer on its way to a PacWest-opening 2-0 home win over Fresno Pacific on Saturday.
"I tried to challenge the guys before the game that it's a 10-game season," Head Coach
Phil Wolf said of the team's conference slate. "We have to take each of these one at a time. I'm happy to get the result and the full points."
The Sea Lions entered PacWest play on a five-match unbeaten streak and they rode that momentum with a quick start to the game.
After PLNU drew a foul in the box,
Marlon Buck calmly stepped up and converted his spot kick to give Point Loma a perfect start to the match.
"I felt good taking it. Yesterday I practiced them in practice," Buck said of his penalty. "I'm very happy for the team. We've been working very hard in the last days and weeks, so we're finally getting what we deserve."
Buck nearly added a second goal in the 34th minute, when his header off a
Dalton Kinney set piece bounced off the woodwork. The rebound went straight to
Milo Libby, whose goal-bound shot was blocked and deflected out for a corner.
Forced to settle for a 1-0 halftime lead, PLNU threatened to add to its tally early in the second period, with
Parker Scalzo's laced effort from outside the box forcing a sure-handed save by the goalkeeper.
The Sea Lions were then finally able to add a valuable insurance goal in the 59th minute through a spectacular left-footed volley from
Abel Balogh.
Samuel Tuscano drove to the byline and had his cross from the right flank partially cleared but only as far as Balogh, who smashed his volley off the inside of the right post and in from about 12 yards out.
"It was just bouncing in front of me and I was like, 'Why not?'" Balogh said of his volley. "I tried with the left and it went in."
Austin Lavell nearly added another for PLNU when he delicately lifted the ball over the keeper but off the top of the crossbar and out.
Point Loma then thought it had its third when
London Lombana's header was saved into the path of
Townsend Meyer, who blasted home from close range. But the goal was ruled out for offside, meaning the Sea Lions only had the two goals to show for a 20-4 shot advantage.
"We just have to continue to work on the final product and the final third," Wolf said. "That's going to be a big emphasis this week, getting in front of goal and creating better chances for us."
The two goals were more than enough though, as PLNU kept its fifth shutout in its past six games.
"As much emphasis as I put on attacking in my own training and thoughts and ideas about the game, at the end of the day, good teams get shutouts," Wolf said. "Four-in-a-row, five-of-six, you have to feel really good about that.
"The switch to Milan central has helped a lot. I think it's solidified us. He and Milo are good partners. We have lots of options. I thought
KC Smith did well in his first time playing there today.
"Great teams that win trophies have to start there and then go forward. At least right now we're pretty safe in the back."
The Sea Lions were picked to finish second in the PacWest Preseason Poll after missing out on the conference title by a single point last year. PLNU has its sights on claiming a first PacWest title in program history this season.
"We just have to keep going and keep pushing," Wolf said. "I think the league is pretty wide open this year for a few teams to go after it. You can't afford to drop points, so you have to take care of the business that you can take care of.
"It was good to get the result. I'm happy for the guys and hopefully we can get better."
Point Loma (4-3-2 overall, 1-0 PacWest) will next take on Holy Names in Oakland on Saturday.
"It's the first out of 10," Buck said of the win over FPU. "We need to win all those 10 games. That's our goal. We want to win the conference and go further, so it was number one out of 10. It wasn't our best game, we all know that, but a win is a win. Now we keep working and next week is the next one."
