(SAN DIEGO)
Elijah Langford's goal with just two seconds remaining in the first half was all PLNU Men's Soccer needed to record its third-straight victory, this time over perennial powerhouse Cal State Dominguez Hills by a 1-0 margin.
"It's massive," Head Coach
Phil Wolf said of the win. "I told the guys beforehand that there were a few things that we didn't get right in the Pomona and San Bernardino games, but this was a day to make it right at home. I'm super proud of the guys. It's a huge result."
With the first half winding down,
Gael Ruiz slipped a through ball that both
Zachary Mercieca and Langford ran toward. Mercieca got to it first and touched it back in Langford's direction, for the Edmond, Oklahoma native to shift it onto his right foot and curl an effort inside the far-right post.
"It's very easy to see that that kid has quality for sure," Wolf said of the freshman forward. "The way he moves, the way he plays and what he thinks about, it doesn't surprise me that chance fell to him and he was able to take it."
Langford's goal was a fitting ending to an opening 45 minutes that saw Point Loma create several dangerous chances, with both
Austin Lavell and
Juan Salazar forcing saves from promising positions.
The duo also whipped in a pair of threatening services across the face of goal that just missed their intended targets, while defensive pressure from
Felix Calero nearly resulted in a ricochet goal when the opposing goalie's clearance bounced off the pressing forward.
"Obviously I want to create more chances but the chances we create are full," Wolf said. "We always look dangerous because it's coming out of our football. I always think we are a threat to score; it doesn't matter who we're playing."
In the second half, Point Loma equaled its shot total from the opening 45 minutes, coming close to converting off a pair of corner kicks.
The Sea Lions earned six corner kicks in total after halftime, as they were able to see the game out and record a second-straight shutout.
"It feels a lot more solid," Wolf said. "In the past we've been solid defensively and just not good enough going forward. Now, we're good enough going forward and we lost our way a little bit defensively (to start the season).
"We went in the wrong direction but the last two results we've had some stability. It gives our strikers, wingers and attacking midfielders opportunities and chances to win the game."
Point Loma (3-2 overall) now turns its attention to an away game at Cal State LA on Saturday at 7 p.m.
"We're excited," Wolf said. "These teams we're playing are no joke. LA has won the national championship, Pomona lost in a final, Dominguez has won two national championships. These are serious clubs and we would obviously love to be considered one as well."
