ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The No. 18-ranked Vanguard men's soccer team opened the 2022 campaign with a 2-2 tie against Soka on Sunday evening at the Lions Den.
The Lions (0-0-1) remained unbeaten in their last four season openers (3-0-1), getting a pair of first half goals from Stewart Alvayero (SR/Los Angeles, CA) and Austin Tubbs (SR/Long Beach, CA). Soka, also nicknamed the Lions, earned their second straight tie against a Golden State Athletic Conference opponent after drawing 1-1 with San Diego Christian earlier this week.
The game marked the head coaching debut of Jesus Miramontes.
What Happened?: It was not an auspicious start for VU as Soka scored just 27 seconds into the game. Kaulin Huss laid off a pass to Chase Buchert, who found Noah Alexander for the 1-0 lead.
Huss took another shot in the seventh minute, forcing the first career save by VU goalie Edwin Monterrosa (FR/Los Angeles, CA), who made his collegiate debut in net.
The Lions took only three shots in the first half, but did so with surgical efficiency.
Alvayero, who led the team with 11 goals last season, took VU's first shot in the 27th minute and netted the game-tying goal as he hit a volley from Tubbs into the back of the net.
The Lions struck again 10 minutes later on a beautiful sequence of passes. Aidan Doherty (SO/Huntington Beach, CA) lofted a corner kick across the box to Andrew Robles (SR/Tustin, CA), who used his shoulder to send the ball back across the goal mouth. Tubbs ran forward and steered a perfect right-footed volley past a diving goalkeeper for a 2-1 Lion lead.
Leading 2-1 at intermission, VU came out with renewed aggression in the second half, outshooting Soka 10-5 in the period. Doherty forced Soka goalie Eric Aparicio into a save just two minutes in.
Christopher Sanchez (SO/Santa Ana, CA) nearly extended the lead to two goals as his shot hit the post in the 57th minute.
Monterrosa posted a save on a header attempt by Soka's Adalid Oregon in the 81st minute as VU inched closer to victory.
However, Soka evened the score at the 83:16 mark as Luis Barraza headed a pass from Sam Dagg past Monterrosa.
The Lions pushed hard for the game-winner as Robles and Alvayero combined for three shots over the final six plus minutes, two of which were saved by Aparicio.
Each team took 13 shots for the game. Alvayero led the Lions with four shots, while Robles, Tubbs and Markus Garcia (JR/Corona, CA) took two apiece. Alexander took a team-high four shots for Soka. Monterrosa stopped three shots for the Lions.
Why Is It Important?: The Lions, which gave up just eight goals during the entire 2021 season, allowed a pair to sneak by in the 2022 opener. Tubbs finished with a career-high three points with a goal and an assist. Alvayero notched his 18th career goal, tying him for the 13th all-time at VU.
What Was Said?: "We had some good moments attacking and going forward," said Miramontes. "We also made a few mistakes defensively as well. We have a lot we can improve on. The one thing I can say is they worked very hard for the 90 minutes."
What's Next?: Two more tough tests await the Lions as they take a cross country flight to Mobile, Ala. VU will play No. 11 St. Thomas on Thursday before facing last year's national runner-up, No. 2 Mobile, on Saturday.
