SEASIDE, Calif. – Men's soccer made the trip north to Seaside for the first time in 25 years to take on Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday afternoon. Both teams enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere inside the 6,000-seat Cardinale Stadium, but it was CSUMB who came away with the victory, handing the Lions a sour 4-2 loss on the road.

The Blue and Gold drop to 2-2-1 and concede four goals in a single game for the first time since 2022, in a 4-3 loss to La Sierra. CSUMB wins their second in a row to shift to 2-2 overall.

The Otters set the pace with two goals in each half for their highest goal total of the year. CSUMB substitute Jose Rios Lara headlined the day for the home side, netting his first career brace and scoring the all-important third goal to deny a Vanguard comeback.

VU's goal scorers helped supercharge a much more threatening second-half performance, with Adan Alvarado in the 64th minute and Kevin Abarca in the 88th minute, each finding their second goals of the season. The Lions' struggles to minimize defensive mishaps and keep the Otters in check in the midfield, however, kept VU on the back foot.

Luke Parker had the most shots for the Lions with three, planting one on goal. Robert Ronco, Tyler Williams, and Alvarado each tallied two shots in the match, with Ronco nearing his first goal of the season in the second frame.

Both keepers for each side had season highs in saves, with Aidan Hay collecting four to CSUMB's Jerry Godfryd's three.

CSUMB led 19-15 in total shots and 8-5 in shots on goal. They also doubled the Lions' corner kick attempts (6-3).

What Happened? The first half was all about CSUMB as the Otters spent 42% of their possession in VU's attacking third. They also led in shots for the period, 13-6, and allowed just one shot on goal from VU.

The Lions created a cluster of half-chances in the first half, primarily off the break or through set pieces. Ronco held up the ball and was taken down high up the pitch for a free-kick opportunity in the 10th minute. Alvarado was able to clip the ball to the head of Parker, but the freshman could not trouble Godfryd in the keeper's only save of the half.

31 seconds later, the Otters had their opening goal. Off the save, Godfryd released the ball through the left channel, as CSUMB made their way into the VU half. The cross came in from the left side, and though an Otter player rose to meet it, the ball flicked off the head of a Lion defender for an ill-fated VU own goal to put the Otters in front.

The Blue and Gold had a harder time shaking off the unfortunate opener. Succesive shots by Williams and Alvarado on the counterattack were blocked, and Monterey Bay remained high in VU territory, testing the Vanguard backline with a barrage of crosses.

Hay handled himself well, coming up with a big punch and follow-up save with an extended reach in minute 32, denying the seventh CSUMB shot in the half.

The half seemed at a standstill until six minutes before the break, when CSUMB capitalized on another VU error to double their advantage. The Lions stopped a left-sided attack with a composed back pass in defense, but an untimely slip from a defender left Rios Lara one-on-one, and the forward made no mistake, slotting the ball past Hay to the bottom left for a 2-0 halftime score.

Vanguard was far more aggressive in the second half and led in shots 9-6. They committed bodies forward to center on crossing opportunities, but found trouble protecting the gaps in midfield during CSUMB's counterattacks.

Bryan Ortiz's 52nd-minute free kick from the left side of the box was the first sign of VU growing back in the game, as the shot streaked to the near post for a CSUMB save.

Five minutes later, it was Alvarado's turn to deliver a cross, as the midfielder placed a deadly ball from the right toward the Otter box. Ronco snapped the header to the bottom left corner to draw a standout save from Godfryd, and the Martinez rebounding strike went over the bar.

The Lions' first goal was a free-kick a few paces from the 18-yard box. Alvarado stood over it and spotted the gap at the near post. Godfryd was punished, as Alvarado ripped the ball past the two-man wall and into the opening for 2-1 CSUMB.

The Otters reestablished their two-goal cushion through Rios Lara 10 minutes later. They took their time building down the left-hand side and snuck their way into the box for a cross right through the face of the goal. Hay got a hand to it pressing the ball away, but Rios Lara was lurking at the back post for an easy tap-in and a 3-1 scoreline.

The game began to stretch as the Lions looked for a way back in, but CSUMB closed the door on the counterattack in the 87th minute. The Otter through ball broke through the VU defensive midfield duo, sparking a four versus three on the break. The ball slipped through for CSUMB's Omar Arechiga-Martinez, and he buried the ball into the side netting of the bottom left corner.

Abarca gave the Lions a goal back just a minute after the restart. The transfer was left unchallenged as he raced toward the box from midfield and placed his shot bottom right for his second goal in as many games.

What's Next? The Lions close their three-game road trip with the CCAA defending champions, Cal Poly Pomona, on Thursday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m.