Kustura Nets Two in U of R Men's Soccer Triumph Over Cal Lutheran

With sophomore midfielder Matej Kustura (Las Vegas, NV) leading the way, the University of Redlands men's soccer team defeated the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen on Wednesday evening, 4-2.  It was the Bulldogs' third straight victory, helping them jump into third place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings.

Kustura got things rolling for Redlands in the 16^th minute when he reacted first to a loose ball in the 18-yard box and drilled it into the back of the net, giving the Maroon and Gray the early lead.

12 minutes later, senior midfielder Gabe Ramirez (Pasadena, CA) whipped in a corner-kick from the left side and found sophomore forward Charles Izydorek (Redlands, CA) who flicked the ball with his head past the Cal Lutheran goalkeeper, doubling the Bulldogs' lead.  For Izydorek, it was his fourth goal in the last three contests.

At the halftime break, the Bulldogs led the Kingsmen in shots, 15-7, and corner-kicks, 5-1.

Redlands continued to pour on the offensive pressure at the start of the second stanza, and Kustura tallied his second of the match in the 56^thminute.  After receiving a throw-in from junior midfielder Jon Frisby(Rancho Cucamonga, CA), Kustura took a couple of touches to his left and ripped a shot into the far left-side netting.  The goal was his third on the season.

Up 3-0, the Maroon and Gray continued to press for more, but were caught on a counterattack in the 72^nd minute when the Kingsmen drew a penalty-kick.  Sophomore midfielder David Lee (Mercer Island, WA) stepped up to the spot and buried it into the upper left side of the goal.

The Bulldogs, however, regained the three-goal advantage just over a minute later when sophomore midfielder Nico Johnson (Las Vegas, NV) hit a long cross from the right side and found junior defender Jensen Brehm(Bellevue, WA) open at the back post.  Brehm headed the ball across the goal into the right-side netting for his second score in the last three matches.

Cal Lutheran did pull one back late in the match when freshman defender Nathan Davidson (Highland, CA) ripped a shot from 25 yards out into the upper left corner of the goal.

Despite the Kingsmen pressing to try and find another score, Redlands maintained its two-goal advantage for the remainder of the contest. 

On the night, the Bulldogs out-shot Cal Lutheran, 31-16, and held the clear advantage in corner-kicks, 11-1.  Ramirez led all players with eight shots on the game.

Redlands (7-4-3, 6-2-2) looks to build on this positive result and plays host to Chapman University on Saturday, October 13.  Kickoff at Farquhar Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.