(DENVER) Simon Sagal finished off a well-worked passage of play to equalize for No. 9 PLNU Men's Soccer, who began its Colorado trip with a 1-1 draw at Regis on Thursday evening in a match the Sea Lions deserved to win.
 
"It was a disappointing result in a game I think we could've won," Head Coach Phil Wolf said. "These things happen but I think overall I'm really pleased with the performance and the way we played. We just have to clean some things up."
 
After Regis took the lead in the 55th minute to give Point Loma its first deficit of the season, the Sea Lions responded less than four minutes later through Sagal's first collegiate goal.
 
Milan Diklic surged past a couple Rangers' defenders and found Sagal, who swung the ball out wide to Emmett Layman. Layman then cut inside from the left flank and cheekily backheeled the ball back to Sagal to curl into the far netting first time.
 

Simon Sagal equalizes in the 59'

#9 PLNU level with Regis, 1-1, in the second half.#GoSeaLions

🎥 @RegisRangers pic.twitter.com/zXxrF0nPc2

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 13, 2024

 
"It was a good reaction to adversity," Wolf said of the goal. "I told the guys at the end that it's going to be very hard in this Super Region. We're playing tough teams. These are not easy matches at all. It was a good reaction by the guys to come back. I thought they really pushed to get the final goal to win the game but were a little bit unlucky."
 
Sagal forced a save from a free kick not long after his equalizer, as the Sea Lions pushed for a winner.
 
Elijah Langford beat his defender over the top before squaring a ball to Layman at the back post, only for his shot to be saved off the line.
 
Zach Mercieca dribbled beyond Regis' defense and had his effort saved at the near post for a corner kick.
 
Off the ensuing corner from Niko Kacmarczyk, Langford's header bounced off the underside of the crossbar and out.
 
From there, the Rangers held on for a draw, its third so far this season against teams who played in the NCAA Tournament last year.
 

#9 PLNU Men's Soccer opens Colorado road trip with a 1-1 draw @ Regis. pic.twitter.com/Guu4BvPLYL

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) September 13, 2024

 
PLNU outshot Regis 8-3 in the first half, with Shawn O'Brien testing the goalkeeper from distance and Mercieca forcing a save with a toe-poked effort after slaloming through the Rangers' defense.
 
"Emmett Layman showed his quality today, so we're excited about him," Wolf said. "There were solid performances in a lot of areas. Shawn O'Brien was a bright spot as well. We're excited because we think we can build off that one."
 
Point Loma (1-0-2 overall) will look to remain unbeaten on Saturday when the Sea Lions take on Colorado School of Mines. Kickoff in Golden is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT.