Box Score CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Men's Soccer team fell in its season opener to non-conference opponent Bethesda 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the South Athletics Complex.
With the loss, the Sagehens open up 2021 with an 0-1 overall record.
The Sagehens were led by first-year striker Kyle Lau who scored the only goal of the game for the Sagehens in the loss.
A very physical game for the Flames and the Sagehens to open up the season which resulted in 30 total fouls and seven yellow cards for the Flames. The Flames only registered two shots on goal in the first half but found the back of the net first in the 23rd minute of the match off of a through ball that set up a one on one with the keeper to give Bethesda an early 1-0 lead.
The Sagehens battled back towards the end of the first half as Lau scored his first collegiate goal in the 40th minute off of a beautiful through ball from junior Matthew Carlson, which he then finessed to the right of the keeper to tie the game at 1-1 and send the Sagehens into halftime even with the Flames.
The Sagehens played well in the second half but could not find the answers on offense after missing out on some good chances around the box. Bethesda took advantage of a ball pinging around the box which landed right at the feet of Bethesda attacker who shot a ball into the upper 90 to bump the Flames over the Sagehens 2-1 in the 75th minute.
The Flames' aggressive play almost cost them late as they accumulated a second yellow and went down a man in 88th minute, but the Sagehens couldn't capitalize late as they fell in the season opener, 1-0.
Up Next: The Sagehens return to action on Saturday, September 4th as they travel to UC Santa Cruz at 1:30 p.m.
