(Aliso Viejo, CA) The Park University Gilbert men’s and women’s soccer teams opened California Pacific Conference play at Soka University in Aliso Viejo, Calif. today with the men winning 5-0 and the women tying 1-1. The men picked up its first win of the season and moves to 1-3-1 overall, 1-0-0 in the Cal Pac. The women are now 1-2-2 overall and 0-0-1 in conference.
Men’s Soccer – Park Gilbert 5, Soka 0
The men got off to a strong start in conference with a 5-0 win over the Lions. The Bucs jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half as Liam Brag and Ilan Rodriguez-Roda each netted their first goals of the season. Bragg’s goal came 20 minutes in to the first stanza from Konstantinos Hinteregger. Rodriguez-Roda added on nine minutes later. Each team had five shots in the first half,, but the Bucs put three on goal and scored on two of them. The Lions only had one shot on goal in the half.
Last year, the Buccaneers squandered a two goal lead in the last 10 minutes of the game to lose. Park Gilbert wasted little time to add an insurance goal at the start of the second half as Oliver Haaland scored his first of two goals on the game 28 seconds into the half. He buried his second of the season seven minutes later on a pass from Hinteregger to make the score 4-0.
Ashton Owen salted the match away with his third goal of the season to bring the score to 5-0. Zac Stephenson earned his first clean sheet as the Buccaneers goalkeeper making three saves on the evening and facing 12 shots overall.
The Bucs had 15 shots total and managed to put nine on net. Havard Brynie led the squad with four shots (2 on goal), while Haaland and Hinteregger both had two shots.
Women’s Soccer – Park Gilbert 1, Soka 1
The Buccaneers and Lions each scored an early goal and then a defensive battle ensued as the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie to start Cal Pac Play.
Emma Alvarez scored her fifth goal of the season three minutes into the game to set a new school record for goals in a season by an individual. It is her fifth goal in five games.
Soka responded nine minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. From this point on both teams had opportunities but were unable to capitalize. Alavarez had another shot shortly after the game was tied but missed wide. Hallie Benson had the other three shots on the Bucs were able to produce in the game and had two on goal.
Soka managed 13 total shots on Bucs goalkeeper Catherine Corlett but only put five on goal.
Up Next
Both teams travel to Irvine, Calif., to take on Westcliff this Saturday. The women are up first at 4 p.m. followed by the men at 7 p.m. Both teams are looking for its first win in program history against the Warriors. Both teams trail the season series 0-4.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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