SANTA CRUZ, Calif. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Soccer team (0-1-1) rebounded with a draw on Sunday in a high-scoring affair against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens that ended in a 3-3 draw. Senior forward
Trevor Thompson nets two goals, including an 86
th minute equalizer.
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The Lutes strikers began the game firing, as senior
Craig Johnson took three shots in four minutes, but he couldn't beat the Sagehens keeper. Sophomore
Misha Turchaninov made his presence felt as well with a pair of shots, one missing wide and the other unable to beat the keeper.
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The 31
st minute saw the first score of the game, as the Sagehens broke free to beat Lutes goalkeeper
Nicholas Gaston and make it a 1-0 game. Gaston did earn a pair of saves shortly after between a set of Pomona-Pitzer yellow cards.
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Thompson, Johnson, and senior
Jordan Ross took six shots in the closing seven minutes, with four of which being stopped by the keeper and one of Johnson's hitting the top woodwork. The Sagehens took a 1-0 lead entering the halftime break.
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The defenses stood tall to open the second half, until the 68
th minute when the Sagehens added to their lead to go up 2-0. Thompson's and the Lutes didn't back down from there, as the senior broke through and found the back of the net to make it a 2-1 game in the 70
th minute.
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Sophomore
Owen Bliskis scored his first goal of the season 180 seconds later to knot the game up at 2-2 with 20 minutes left to play.
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Pomona-Pitzer responded with an array of shots shortly after, but it took the sixth attempt to beat Gaston as the Sagehens led 3-2 in the 81
st minute. Not willing to back down, Thompson fired his fifth shot of the game, in the 86
th minute to tie the game back up at 3-3. Both defenses would hold on after a high-scoring second half to end the game in a 3-3 draw.
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The Lutes offense found its stride on Sunday, out-shooting the Sagehens 20-13 with each squad earning 12 shots on-target.
Craig Johnson led the team with seven shots and four on-goal, but it was Thompson who's five shots amounted to two goals.
Nicholas Gaston made six saves in the contest.
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The Lutes return from California and have a week off before taking on Calvin University in Salem, Ore. on September 13
th.
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