BOX SCORE


BOX SCORE



SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer team responded to Friday's tough result against Sonoma State with vigor Sunday afternoon, defeating Humboldt State 3–0 at the Otter Sports Complex.

Senior midfielder Pana Vasquez (Houston/SMU) scored his first two goals in an Otter uniform, junior midfielder Neo Modise (San Lorenzo/Bishop O'Dowd HS) scored his first collegiate goal and freshman midfielder Julian Salas (Long Beach/Lakewood HS) set up two scores to pace in the Otter attack.

The Otter backline, meanwhile, did a solid job in front of Cory Calder (South Lake Tahoe/Cabrillo College), helping the junior goalkeeper earn his second shutout.

“I keep mentioning learning tools, and today was another game that allowed us to learn something about ourselves,” says CSUMB first year Head Coach Rob Cummings. “It was important to see how would we react after Friday's tough loss and what our mind set would be knowing we lost at Humboldt the first go around.”

Neither team saw much through most of the first half as each side probed for weakness without presenting much danger. With time winding down before halftime, the Otters broke through thanks to a brilliant build up. Salas crossed a ball to Modise at the upper left side of the penalty area. Modise moved the ball over to Vasquez, whose sure finish earned CSUMB a 1–0 lead at the interval.

The Otters doubled their advantage shortly after the restart when George Plakorus (Columbia, Mo./Hickman HS) made a quick run down the right flank before sending a perfect cross to Vasquez running unmarked at the far post. Vasquez completed his brace with a simple header for a 2–0 Otter lead.

But the second Otter goal breathed life into the Lumberjacks, who spent the better part of the next half hour giving CSUMB all it could handle. Humboldt nearly cut the Otter lead in half in the 53rd minute when Zack Hammond found himself with the ball on the Otter stoop. But Calder slammed the door on Hammond's first attempt before senior defender Eli Zamora (Encino/Crespi HS) picked his second shot off the line to preserve Calder's clean sheet.

The bell finally tolled for the Lumberjacks in the 72nd minute when Ray Lind was sent off with a straight red after a cleats–up tackle at midfield. Five minutes later, Salas put an exclamation point on the Otter win by dancing through a trio of Humboldt defenders inside the penalty area before slipping a short pass to Modise for the tap–in goal that secured the spoils for the home side.

“We said before the game, 'win today and you go into next weekend still playing for a chance to get into the conference tournament,'” says Cummings. “And like the players have done all year, they answered the challenge as new contributors stepped up once again to give us the lift we needed.

“It was good to see Pana and George get back on the stat sheet with goals and an assist, but also, I'm so happy for Neo who had and assist and scored his first collegiate goal today. It couldn't happen to a better person.”

CSUMB (6–6–1, 6–5–1 CCAA) hits the road for huge matches at CCAA North Division contenders Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State next weekend. The Otters return home to finish the regular season against Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills Oct. 28–30.

Humboldt State (3–10–0, 2–5–0) continues its four–match road trip Friday at UC San Diego.




Cal State Monterey Bay 3, Humboldt State 0

Goals by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
Humboldt State......  0  0 -  0
CSU Monterey Bay....  1  2 -  3

SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.  42:51 CSUMB Pana Vasquez (1) (Neo Modise;Julian Salas) - Touch touch across top of box
  2.  46:27 CSUMB Pana Vasquez (2) (George Plakorus) - Header off far post cross
  3.  78:49 CSUMB Neo Modise (1) (Julian Salas) - Salas dances thru, Modise taps home

Shots: Humboldt State 10, CSUMB 13
Saves: Humboldt State 0 (Kyle Verle), CSUMB 3 (Cory Calder 3)