Evan Drake earned his ninth career shutout by making nine saves Tuesday night iin Turlock.
BOX SCORE TURLOCK, Calif. -- In a preview of what is certain to be a spirited CCAA match in Seaside on Sept. 28, the Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer team earned a hard-fought nonconference draw against Cal State Stanislaus Tuesday night at Warrior Stadium.
Junior goalkeeper
Evan Drake (Sacramento/El Camino HS) earned man of the match honors after making nine saves, including two on Stanislaus breakaways, to earn his second clean sheet of the season and the ninth of his career, two off Brendan Baca's career record of 11.
The Warriors called Drake to action early when he had to come off his line to stone Josue Barajas in the ninth minute. Drake repeated his feat with time winding down in the first half, this time denying Luis Hernandez a breakaway attempt of his own to keep the match scoreless at the interval.
"This was a great game to be at as a spectator," said CSUMB Head Coach
Rob Cummings (@RobCummings3). "I was proud of the team and their grit. They showed discipline and created chances. This was our best game we played as we continue to improve as a team. I loved the effort."
Stanislaus went into the half with a narrow 7-5 edge in shots, but all seven Warrior attempts were on frame. The Warriors put just two more shots on target over the final 65 minutes, leaving Drake with nine saves for the match, tied for the No. 4 mark on the Otter single match list.
While the shot differential remained more or less equal, the Otters didn't put one on target until the first overtime period and, when they did, they nearly took the match.
With 90 seconds left in the first overtime
Chris Koski (Cupertino/Monta Vista HS) forced Stanislaus goalkeeper to make an excellent save.
Duce Bell (Fresno CC) pounced on the rebound but sent his follow-up off the post.
Nick Stanley (Yucaipa HS) had one final chance in the sequence, but a Warrior defender blocked his shot to silence CSUMB's best scoring chances of the night.
The second overtime saw little offense, with the first two shots given to Hernandez and teammate Manny Villegas, and both attempts from long distance were more wishful thinking than credible threats.
CSUMB saved its final two chance for the final two minutes. Bell sent a header off a well-delivered cross just outside the left post in the 109th minute. With fewer than 30 seconds remaining, George Plakourus (Columbia, Mo./Hickman HS) finished a quick build up with a shot from 15 yards that Long handled easily.
The final 28 seconds passed uneventfully.
CSUMB returns to action with its final pre-CCAA tuneup Tuesday, Sept. 23 against Pac West Conference foe Hawaii-Hilo. Kickoff at the Otter Sports Complex is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
GO OTTERS!
