Kingsmen soccer fall to Pomona-Pitzer in first conference defeat of the season

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Photo by Ysabella Gonzalez - Reporter

The Kingsmen Soccer team failed to register a goal for the second game in a row.

Ysabella Gonzalez, Reporter

California Lutheran University Kingsmen soccer fell to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in a tight 1-0 loss.ย 

Both defense and offense battled as the score did little to separate the teams. While no goals were scored in the first half, the Kingsmenโ€™s defense was put to the test as the Sagehens took eight shots. On the other hand, Cal Lutheranโ€™s offense only managed one shot in the first 45 minutes, and their slower start did not go unnoticed by their coach.ย 

โ€œI thought we started off pretty slow. We didnโ€™t have a good rhythm and we put ourselves a little bit on the back foot,โ€ Head Coach Miguel Ruiz said.ย 

In the second half, the Kingsmen came back determined to score a goal. Cal Lutheran took nine more shots, three of which had been on target. All three attempts were stopped by Pomona-Pitzerโ€™s goalie. As the game carried on, both teams were beginning to press more, committing several fouls and causing more frequent corner kicks.ย 

โ€œThe game was just back and forth. If we started the second half like we did the first, it would be a different story. If we started like that we wouldโ€™ve had more opportunities to score, but the game went one way and we just bounce back from here,โ€ senior center midfielder Igor Lumbrano said.ย 

The game saw its first goal in its final stages when the Sagehens sank the ball into the Kingsmenโ€™s net with ten minutes remaining. Cal Lutheran looked for a late equalizer but never found the opening needed.ย 

โ€œWe definitely got to work on just putting balls in the net and staying focused throughout the 90 minutes of the game. We canโ€™t have any switch-offs or let-downs which results in goals,โ€ senior defender Tyler Sherard said.ย 

Despite the loss, Ruiz kept a positive, grounded attitude at the result of the game.

โ€œI thought we played well in the second half, with the exception of the goal, I thought we turned off a little bit and soccer is a cruel game sometimes, sometimes you turn off for a little bit and teams punish you. So we got to learn, got to rebound quick,โ€ Ruiz said.ย 

This was also echoed by Kingsmen players who said they are trying to keep moving forward as the season goes on.

โ€œItโ€™s disappointing to lose 1-0, but weโ€™re early in the season still so we got a lot of games to bounce back, so I think weโ€™ll be alright. We just got to keep our heads and look forward to the next game,โ€ Sherard said.ย 

This defeat brings the Kingsmenโ€™s conference record to 3-1-1 and their overall record to 4-2-3.ย 

โ€œWe got a good team this year, we just got to stay together, stay focused, keep grinding, and weโ€™ll get things done this year,โ€ Sherard said.

The Kingsmen plan to keep fighting strong with their heads held high, and brush off this loss.ย 

โ€œItโ€™s a long season, nothingโ€™s lost. We got a long season ahead of us and we just got to get better, as the coaching staff, as players, we just have to get better โ€ฆ Thereโ€™s no time to sit and dwell on a loss, we got to get better and thatโ€™s the bottom line,โ€ Ruiz said.ย 

The next home conference game will be against Occidental on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m.