(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Men's Soccer controlled much of its season-opening match against Cal Poly Pomona, ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, but fell on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline on Thursday afternoon.
 
"Overall I'm really pleased with the performance," PLNU Head Coach Phil Wolf said. "Pomona is a team that's one of the elite teams in Division II. I thought for the most part we controlled them. We dictated the game and made them chase. I don't think they played their ordinary game. The plan and the tactics were right."
 
All was going according to plan for the Sea Lions until a turnover gave the visitors the ball in a dangerous area, which CPP took full advantage of to take the lead in the 22nd minute.
 
"It was a pretty silly giveaway and they pounced and punished us," Wolf said. "If you give a full chance to Paul their 7 at Pomona, he's going to take it and he took it well. You can't afford to make those kinds of mistakes against a team like this because they have that quality to punish you."
 
The Sea Lions had moments in the first half where they looked dangerous, but were just missing the final delivery.
 
In the 20th minute, Parker Scalzo won the ball in midfield and tried to play Austin Lavell in on the break, but the pass took the winger just too far wide. Moments later, Lundeen scooped a pass over the Bronco defense to Lavell, whose cross just sailed over the head of a converging Christopher Burgos Lara.
 
Five minutes later, Burgos Lara combined well down the right sideline to play Marlon Buck in first time for a cross, but his delivery was blocked.
 
Then in the 32nd minute, Townsend Meyer slipped Parker Scalzo through on the right side of the box, but his shot was pulled just wide left.
 
"In the first half I thought we had a lot of situations that we didn't get much out of, not even a chance," Wolf said. "We got at their left back in the first half but just couldn't find the right pass or the right run."
 
After trailing by one entering the half, PLNU was lively to start the second period. Milan Diklic cut inside from his left back position to play Burgos Lara toward goal from the right wing but his tight-angled shot was saved.
 
Against the run of play, CPP was then awarded a penalty kick in the 58th minute, but captain Seth Ketterer lunged to his right and saved the ensuing spot kick.
 
"My first thought was there was really nothing to lose," Ketterer said. "I saw him lineup a certain way that I knew he was going to try to hit it as hard as he could to one corner. I was able to get my right hand to it. I thought it went in at first but then I looked up and it was out of bounds, so I was stoked after that.
 
"I was super excited to see the boys get amped and that's when I saw a push to get back into it, but obviously we didn't."
 
Wolf added: "Seth making the save keeps you in the game and at that point you're just hoping you can get a goal in the last 30 minutes or so. A great save that kept us in it, but unfortunately we couldn't find a way through."
 
The Sea Lions maintained pressure going forward, putting several more crosses into the box but the Broncos were up to the task each time.
 
With just over eight minutes remaining, Diklic's interior ball found Lundeen, who flicked it over the defense into the 18-yard box toward an on-rushing Buck. But before he could take a shot, the Bronco defense was able to clear its lines.
 
After the ensuing corner kick, Lundeen's cross was cleared only as far as Meyer at the top of the box. His laced shot was going goalbound, but only to be blocked by a sliding defender for another corner kick.
 
A long range effort from Lundeen with under 30 seconds left won the Sea Lions a last ditch corner.  PLNU sent everyone forward, including Ketterer, but the visitors headed clear to preserve the season-opening victory.
 
"I would've loved for us to be a bit more dangerous and create a few more chances, but our first game against that level of a team, a very good performance today," Wolf said.
 
Cal Poly Pomona, who reached the NCAA Super Region final last season, held Point Loma to just seven shots overall and two on target.
 
"When you play these teams, it's a razor-thin edge to figure out a way to score a goal," Wolf said. "It was very difficult to get through. In the second half we did a bit more of it. Situations, but not a ton of full chances that you're really hoping for, especially at home. It's the hardest part of the game, the final third. It's easy to set up a team to defend but much harder to breakthrough. I'm super proud of the guys.
 
"To control that team at this point of the season says a lot about the quality in our group and also the willingness to play with courage. Most teams would cave but we're not going to do that. I'm happy with the performance but gutted for the guys that we didn't at least take a point. I think that would've been a fair result."
 
PLNU (0-1 overall) has a quick turnaround before its next game on Saturday at home against Cal State San Bernardino. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.