One Unfortunate Play Costs CLU
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – A header from Lucas Kurzon in the 14th minute off a well-placed corner kick from teammate David Lee helped Cal Lutheran take an early 1-0 lead against the visiting Caltech Beavers Wednesday afternoon.
Box Score: CIT 2, CLU 1 - F
Timing his jump perfectly to redirect Lee's pass, Kurzon literally leapt over the mass of players stationed in front of Caltech's net to beat Beavers goalkeeper Wesley Swank and give his team an early advantage.
The goal was Kurzon's first since the 2009 season with teammate Lee earning his first assist and career point as a Kingsmen on the play.
But two Caltech goals scored within 33 seconds of one another midway through the second half ended up being the difference as the Beavers were then able to pack their own penalty area, prevent Cal Lutheran from scoring the equalizer, preserve their lead, and escape Mt. Clef Stadium with a 2-1 win.
The decisive play itself was an unusual and unlucky one for Cal Lutheran; Beavers forward Mitchel Arene was able to somehow make the most of 50-50 opportunity, nicking the once-loose ball in the direction of CLU's goal mere moments before crashing into two Cal Lutheran players engaged in a full-on sprint of their own.
With players falling to the turf after crashing into one another at the point of contact, and everyone else on the field of play still running towards CLU's net in an attempt to catch-up to the mass of student-athletes entangled just inside the Kingsmen's penalty area, Arene's initial touch provided just enough momentum for the ball to trickle over the goal line and break a 1-1 tie.
Cal Lutheran (0-6, 0-2 SCIAC) will return to Mt. Clef Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 24, to face La Verne (1-3, 0-2 SCIAC) in a matinee match-up that will start at 1:00 p.m.
