Costa Mesa -- The NAIA National Tournament Opening Round for men's soccer continued Saturday for Vanguard University. The Lions, having beat Cumberland (Tenn.), faced Marymount California University to decide which of the two would go to Alabama and the NAIA Tournament Final Site. A close game ensued, as VU and MCU gave it everything they had for 90 minutes. Tied at 1-1, overtime was needed but early in the second OT, the Mariners pushed home the game-winner to take the victory 2-1. VU will finish the year at 15-4-1, while Marymount goes to 15-6-1.
What Happened? The Mariners and the Lions had not met since 2019 but the teams quickly got at it on Saturday. Marymount attacked the VU end early in the first half, getting the first two shots and the first corner kick. While their 15 minute run of quality possession and territory put them on the front foot, the Lions were strong on defense. Andrew Robles (SR/Tustin, CA) and Harold Aguirre (JR/Long Beach, CA) each found a way to cancel out some chances and keep the Mariners off the board. James Choi (SR/Irvine, CA) also got a big assist from the crossbar, as a shot in the fifth minute from outside the box smacked off the white poll and rolled over the net.
The Blue and Gold found their footing after weathering the opening pressure and started to take over the match. The squad got their first corner kick in the 16th minute and the first shot from Stewart Alvayero (JR/Los Angeles, CA) in the 18th minute, but a save by MCU goalie Michael Dairo kept VU from scoring first. Alvayero then went for goal on a free kick in the 21st minute but the distance was too great to beat the MCU keeper, who made a comfortable stop.
But the Lions had found a groove and were able to maneuver their way into the attacking end with some good passing. Another corner kick in the 27th minute landed on the top of the head of Robles, but it ricocheted too high and cleared the bar. However, the better form soon paid off. Some good passing through the midfield got the ball to Austin Tubbs (JR/Long Beach, CA) on the right flank. He sent a ball to the top of the 18-yard box and Nathaniel Gomez (SO/Dominguez, CA) blasted his shot into the back of the net to put VU ahead 1-0 in the 29th minute. His goal was his second of the tournament, after scoring the game-winner against Cumberland on Thursday.
Despite a VU lead, slowly, Marymount reestablished itself in the game. While Vanguard had a couple of shots from deep, the Mariners were able to move the ball more precisely and a couple of crosses hit some holes that VU had trouble covering. In the 41st minute, Tubbs missed a shot wide to the left. Dairo got the ball for the goal kick and restarted the action quickly. A gap on the right side of the Vanguard defense allowed Paco Piscaglia to draw in two defenders and lay in a pass for Leonel Perez, who blew in towards Choi and slotted his shot in past the goalie to level the score at 1-1. The goal ended eight games and 40 minutes of shutout soccer by VU. Marymount had more possession over the final five minutes, but Choi made one comfortable save and the game went to halftime tied at one.
MCU outshot VU 9-8 in the first and each side had five corner kicks.
The second half was a more physical contest than the first, with the teams combining for seven yellow cards over the course of the remaining 45. Choi made the first stop of the half as he watched a shot from distance sail into his gloves. The Lions then peppered Dairo with three shots over four minutes, but Robles and Lucah Flores (FR/Frisco, TX) were denied each time. VU had a great chance batted over the bar by Dairo in the 62nd minute, as Robles drove a 20-plus yard shot on target.
The fouls continued to mount up as the game passed the hour mark. Despite a lot of heavy challenges, VU had four corners over a short span but could not slip anything in, with Dairo again knocking one chance over the bar. Robles was then denied by the crossbar on a booming header off a corner kick, one of the best chances VU had in the second half.
Choi made a pair of good saves down the stretch. The first was a shot from range that he dove out to his left to snag, and the second one came in and stuck to his mitts as he made the leaping grab.
1-1 after 90 minutes, overtime was needed and the first period was frantic and suspenseful. Choi made perhaps the save of the year just a couple of minutes in, as a lead pass connected with Perez with no defenders to beat. Choi came off his line and just got his gloves to the ball to send it wide of the post and keep the game going. VU then had a stellar chance of their own, as Alvayero drove down the far side of the box and unleashed a shot that bounced off the crossbar. A couple more shots by each side did not pose a threat and 10 more minutes of OT were needed.
The Mariners came out in the second OT on fire, dictating the contest and looking like the better side. A ball through the midfield opened a gap on the right-wing and in went Ricardo Cam De Solar, who made a high, looping, cross. A gaggle of players from both sides jumped for it and missed. Cade Flanagan then arrived on the scene to find the loose ball and he drove his shot into the net in the 104th minute to send Marymount to Alabama with a 2-1 win.
Each team had 20 shots, though VU had an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal. The Lions also had a 12-6 edge in corner kicks. Choi made six saves, while Robles led the team with six shots and three shots on target. Alvayero had four shots and Flores three shots.
Why is it Important? The Lions bow out of the tournament and the careers of Hugo Lozano (SR/Santa Ana, CA), Oscar Salas (SR/Santa Ana, CA), Robles, Aguirre, and Marc Trejo (SR/Santa Ana, CA) come to an end. VU also falls to 5-3-1 all-time against Marymount.
What was said? "What a great year!" Said Head Coach Randy Dodge. "We were picked to be fifth in the conference and these guys rose to the occasion and played awesome. To be the top team in the country in goals-against is a huge accomplishment. We were good enough today to get into the quarter-finals but it was not to be."
