(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Men's Soccer battled Westmont to a 2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon in the final non-conference matchup for both teams ahead of PacWest play beginning next week.
"At the end of the day with them not playing on Thursday and us playing a game on Thursday, I'm proud of the guys for getting a draw," Head Coach
Phil Wolf said. ""We had some good moments and some not so good moments.
"The thing about Westmont is they're going to have some of the ball and they're going to play hard, so it has to be different things than we're normally being asked."
Evan Youngflesh continued his torrid scoring form, scoring in his third straight game, to give the Sea Lions an early lead in the 12th minute.
Shawn O'Brien played
Zack Mercieca through to cross the ball across the box to Youngflesh at the back post to find the back of the net for a team-leading fourth time this season.
"He's got a little game to him, a little bite and a little attitude to him," Wolf said. "He has a typical winger personality, persona and quality. He's a brave kid and his movement inside the penalty area is so good. I'm super proud of him and we need more guys to join him."
After Westmont equalized just six minutes later, Mercieca then found the scoresheet himself in the 26th to put PLNU back in front.
The Sea Lions took a quick corner kick, with Youngflesh feeding
Inaki Santamarina to cross to Mercieca, who has three assists in his last two games, and restore the hosts' advantage.
However, the Warriors once again found an equalizing goal in the 39th minute to level the score once more.
After the teams combined for four goals in the first half, neither could break the deadlock in the second period, with the game finishing 2-2.
"You can't concede two goals every game and expect to do anything, but we're scoring we just have to put all the pieces together," Wolf said.
With the draw, PLNU closes out its non-conference schedule on a four-match unbeaten streak. The Sea Lions and Warriors will match up again in PacWest play in their regular season finale, Oct. 31 in Santa Barbara.
"The main thing for me is getting through the non-conference with a draw," Wolf said. "I think we played one of the toughest schedules in the country, so we have to be pleased with where we're at."
Point Loma (3-2-3 overall) opens conference play on Thursday when the Sea Lions host Chaminade at 3:15 p.m.
"Because we have such a new team, our focus has been this point of the year the whole time," Wolf said of PacWest play. "Hopefully we can pick up some momentum here. In the league everyone is going to give us their best shot, so we have to be ready."
