(SAN DIEGO) The power might have gone out on Point Loma's campus on Thursday afternoon, but that didn't prevent a second half surge from PLNU Men's Soccer against Menlo.
After the power went out at halftime with the game tied 1-1, the Sea Lions came out of the break energized and were rewarded with a 2-1 victory over the Oaks in their PacWest opener.
A matchup between the top two teams in the PacWest standings from last season, and the top two in the conference preseason poll this year, lived up to its billing with both squads finding the back of the net in the early going.
Emmett Layman gave Point Loma the perfect start in just the ninth minute with his fifth goal of the season.
Building out of the back from its own goal kick,
Cole Friesen nutmegged a defender and played a perfect ball to find an in-stride
Zack Mercieca, who squared a ball to Layman for a simple tap-in at the back post.
Menlo equalized just over three minutes later, before Point Loma nearly retook the lead on multiple occasions, as Friesen and Mercieca both had shots saved from close range.
Layman continued to cause problems for the Oaks on the left flank, but the first half ended level at 1-1.
The Sea Lions came out strong in the second half, with Langford and
Ryan Doyle both forcing saves.
Langford managed to restore PLNU's advantage in the 77th minute from the penalty spot after drawing a foul inside the area.
Point Loma should've had another penalty awarded when Langford rounded the goalkeeper and was taken down in the box, but no foul was called.
Langford also hit the post not long after, as the Sea Lions somehow didn't add to their goal tally despite outshooting the Oaks 16-6 overall and 10-3 in shots on goal.
PLNU didn't need another though, as the hosts came away with a crucial three points to kick off its conference schedule.
Point Loma (5-2-1 overall, 1-0 PacWest) will play next at Concordia on Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
