COSTA MESA -- The home opener for Vanguard men's soccer was seconds away from being a grand win for VU over CSU San Bernardino, the #8 team in the first United States Soccer Coaches top 25 poll.  The Lions went ahead in the second half thanks to a goal from Luke Parker, but with just 21 seconds to go, CSUSB pocketed the tying goal to end proceedings at 1-1.  VU goes to 1-1-1 and the Coyotes are now 2-0-1.
 
 
What Happened?  The opening volley almost put the visitors ahead, as the first crack at goal just 53 seconds in thumped off the post to the left of Aidan Hay.  While a period of CSUSB press kept the Lions in their own end for the next few minutes, VU soon broke the cage and came forward.
 
Shots by Sidney Dina and Robert Ronco, bracketing the 20th minute, both missed to the right of goal.  Ronco got a head on the first VU corner kick of the contest, but the ball again trailed away from the target.  Adan Alvarado made CSUSB keeper Donovan Palomares make the first save of the game in the 32nd minute, but neither side would tally a first-half goal.  The downside for the Lions entering the break were yellow cards against Ben Sieber (40th minute) and Tyler Williams (42nd minute), but the team had a visible edge in the match over the Coyotes.
 
The second half opened with a trio of Vanguard shots, but none could find the target.  Dina had a good crack at goal in the 59th minute, but the bouncing effort was scooped up by Palomares, yet he Coyotes could not get much going offensively.  They were again on the defensive after the hour mark, as shots by Shaun Im, Juan Vazquez, and Dina all pestered the CSUSB goal.  Eight minutes later, Parker came off the bench, and the substitution proved to be a big moment  A CSUSB turnover gave Connor McCoy room to run on the right flank.  He got behind the defense, rolled the ball through the box, and joined in the celebration after Parker stabbed it home to put the Lions up 1-0 in the 70th minute.
 
The Coyotes put some urgency into their play, and though the guests could not get a shot on goal over the next few minutes, they got a boost in the 85th minute as Sieber picked up his second yellow card of the game, putting CSUSB up a man.  The Vanguard defense held for the next five minutes, but with 21 seconds to go, a cross was finished off by Tony Negrete to leave both teams level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
 
The Lions outshot the Coyotes 14-9, but a slim 3-2 edge in shots on goal for VU offers evidence that both teams had solid back lines.  The Blue and Gold had a 6-3 edge in corners and CSUSB had 13 fouls to Vanguard's 10.  Palomares had two saves and Hay had one, while both Dina and Ronco led the Lions with three shots apiece. 
 
What was Said?  "We were really good today against a quality opponent," said Head Coach Jesus (Chuy) Miramontes.  "We played well and should have won the game.  We are getting better and once we find a way to finish games out, we will be tough to beat.  This is getting us ready for conference play."
 
What's Next?  The Lions travel north next week for two battles against other CCAA schools, with CSU East Bay up first on Friday, September 19, at 11:30 a.m.