LA VERNE, Calif. – The George Fox men's soccer team traveled down to the Golden State, competing in their first non-exhibition match of the season, and kicked off their two-game weekend with an unfortunate 3-0 loss against the La Verne Leopards.
How It Happened
Raiden Renggli began the action with a shot to the low left less than a minute in, strung from a throw-in with two quick passes to avoid the defense. Renggli's shot deflected off La Verne and almost missed the goalie's reach, but the game remained scoreless.
The Leopards found success in the 11th minute, stemming from a Bruin free kick that didn't reach its intended target, finding the feet of the La Verne midfield, before they slotted a ball in the box; Juan Manzano ultimately capitalized, putting the Leopards up, 1-0.
In the 12th minute, Fox worked their way up the field, starting from the 25-yard mark and reaching
Zac LeVin for a shot attempt, but it didn't see the back of the net. La Verne turned around immediately with another strong attack that reached the goal and gave them a quick 2-0 lead.
Fox picked up two more shots,
Luke Lidington in the 31st minute, and
Talon Wagner in the 41st, yet both Bruins missed low. The Leopards totalled five more shots in the half, but Fox carried a block, and goalie
Chase Nelson racked up two saves to keep the opposition at two goals.
The Bruins opened the second half with some fresh legs, making four substitutions. A strong kickoff carried them up the field, and a few throw-ins later,
Alec Buongervino found the ball at his feet just outside the 18-yard box, but the La Verne defense was there, blocking the shot.
In the minutes following, LeVin and
Carson Tapia tried to find any success for Fox, but again couldn't get the opportunity; the shots were blocked or saved by the Leopards.
The 65th minute is when La Verne got their 3-0 lead. The ball was cleared by Fox just in front of their 18-yard box but won in the middle third of the field by the Leopards, carried up, followed by a quick give-and-go around the Bruins defense, finished with a ball slotted in the corner, right under Nelson's Grasp. That goal would turn out to be the final, as the Bruins dropped their opener, 3-0.
Top Performances
Luke Lidington,
Aidan Brouddus,
Raiden Renggli, Zav LeVin,
Carson Tapia, and
Talon Wagner all tracked a shot on frame.
What It Means
The Bruins start their season with a 0-1-0 record. La Verne picked up their first win of the season, moving to 1-0-1.
What Comes Next
Fox will stay in Calif., but relocate to Pasadena to compete against Caltech on Friday, September 4, at 4:00 pm.
