REDLANDS, Calif. — Nathan Gonzalez did what he does best, scoring an equalizer in the 71st minute, and the University of La Verne men's soccer team looked poised to carry the momentum to a berth in the NCAA National Championship tournament.
But Arman Mogharei answered just eight minutes later for No. 25 Redlands and the Bulldogs held on for a 2-1 win in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship on Saturday.
La Verne finishes the season 16-5-1 and has likely played the last game of its season.
The Leopards, who made its first-ever appearance in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament championship game, did not show any nerves. They created chances from the get-go and outshot the Bulldogs, 16-12, on the game and 12-6 in the second half.
"For us not having any experience at all in this kind of environment, we stepped up and we played like a team that's been here before," La Verne head coach Trevor Persson said. "Despite giving up a late goal, our guys fought until the end."
After a scoreless first half, Redlands's Casey Boone broke the scoring seal five minutes into the second half as he headed home a cross from the right wing.
The Bulldogs rode the momentum to pressure the Leopards immediately after the goal but the Leopards weathered the storm and Gonzalez got his chance in the 71st minute. The junior weaved into the box from the left side and had his initial shot blocked by a defender. But he collected his own rebound among three Redlands defenders and blasted a shot past the goalkeeper Josh Haskill to breathe new life into his team.
But just eight minutes after the equalizer, the Bulldogs launched a counterattack off a La Verne mistake. The Bulldogs drove down the left wing, sent a cross to far post and Sergio Valencia dropped off a good pass to Mogharei, who slotted the ball into the net.
La Verne got a couple of decent looks at the goal after that but could not convert and the Bulldogs were able to use possession to finish the game.
There is a very good chance that the Leopards will be back and be just as good, if not better, next year. La Verne returns tonight's entire starting lineup back and will be able to draw upon this season's experience.
"A great season comes to an end but we're going to use this as a lesson, remember this feeling and make sure it's a different feeling for us next year," Persson said.
