Halftime Deficit Dooms Cal Lutheran
WHITTIER, Calif. – A goal scored by Cal Lutheran senior midfielder Patrick McCoy in the 71st minute helped his team whittle away at Whittier's three-goal lead. But the host Poets prevented CLU from decreasing that advantage any further throughout the final 19 minutes of Wednesday evening's game to defeat the Kingsmen by a final score of 3-1.
Box Score: WC 3, CLU 1 - F
The goal was McCoy's first since his freshman season in 2008, earning his second assist in as many games on the play was sophomore defender Timo Ros.
Outshooting Whittier 8-6 and forcing Poets goalkeeper David Diaz to make five saves throughout the first half, it would have been no surprise to the crowd at if the Kingsmen were the ones to possess a two goal lead at the half.
But the play of Diaz was enough to keep the Kingsmen at bay as goals scored in the 16th and 43rd minute enabled the host Poets to lead 2-0 after the first 45 minutes of action.
Even though Whittier increased its led to three after netting a goal in the early moments of the second half, McCoy would bring the Kingsmen into striking distance when he scored his first goal of the season with almost 20 minutes remaining in the game.
Responsible for four of the final five shots recorded, Cal Lutheran made a valiant effort to further decrease the Poets' lead as the second half progressed. Unfortunately for the Kingsmen, that halftime deficit became the ultimate difference in the match as neither team would score for the rest of the evening.
Led by freshman forward Matt Hubbard with three, nine different players helped CLU outshoot Whittier by a 15-13 margin.
The first of back-to-back home games for Cal Lutheran (1-7, 1-3 SCIAC) will take place this Saturday, October 1 against Pomona-Pitzer (5-4, 4-1 SCIAC). Kick-off at Mt. Clef Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
