Kingsmen Lose Heartbreaker in Season Opener

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Raul Yepez' return to the field was a successful one as the junior forward was responsible for both Cal Lutheran goals scored in Sunday's home opener against the Fontbonne Griffins.

Box Score: FBU 3, CLU 2 - F

But a ten minute block of time in the second half was all it took to negate all of Cal Lutheran's hard work as Fontbonne scored three unanswered goals to hand the Kingsmen a 3-2 defeat in the their first home game of the season.

Entering Sunday's contest at Mt. Clef Stadium victorious in their last four straight home openers, the Kingsmen were fully intent on expanding that streak by another game as the CLU offense forced the Fontbonne defense to respond to a number of dangerous scoring opportunities from the very start of the game.

Returning to the pitch after missing almost the entire 2010 season due to injury, Yepez and sophomore midfielder Ivan Sanchez successfully teamed up on a give-and-go play inside the Fontbonne penalty area to score the Kingsmen's first goal of the afternoon in the 14th minute of action.

The CLU lead would double 15 minutes later when a Tyler Pascoe's long-ball pass landed just in front of a streaking Yepez, who timed his run through the middle of the Fontbonne back-line perfectly at midfield to avoid an offsides call, to set up the one-on-one scoring opportunity that Yepez would successfully finish to give the Kingsmen a two goal lead.

The score would remain 2-0 in CLU's favor until Griffins forward Justin Williams scored his first of back-to-back goals in the 65th minute from a scoring opportunity that originated off a Fontbonne free kick taken right in front of the visiting bench.

Williams would tie the game just minutes later when his next shot found the back of the net after taking an unfortunate bounce off the crossbar to elude the outstretched hands of CLU netminder Chris Holm.

A shot from the foot of Charlie Chafin in the 75th minute ended up being the difference in the match as Fontbonne was able to capitalize off another free kick to break the tie for good.

Cal Lutheran (0-1) will return to action this Friday at UC Santa Cruz, kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.