Box Score Hayward, CA - Playing on the same pitch that the team won the program's first NCAA tournament game on last season, the Simon Fraser University men's soccer team got the 2013 season started with a win, defeating the Cal-State East Bay Pioneers 2-1.
"It's never easy playing your opener on the road and having to integrate so many new players," said Head Coach
Alan Koch. "I'm very proud of the guys for coming together and showing the character to win a tough game."
The game marked the beginning of a four game non-conference schedule for SFU. After the win against East Bay, the Clan will play in San Francisco, CA against the Holy Names Hawks on Saturday before games against the Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors and Trinity Lutheran Eagles at home next week.
Despite the fact that the Clan had nine shots on goal to five for the Pioneers, it was still a tight match that was tied at the half.
Lucas Ferritto (Hamilton, ON) got the first goal of the 2013 season for the Clan in the 10th minute with
Colin Jacques (Richmond, BC) getting the assist.
"We grinded out the win tonight and just put our mentality in the right place," said Ferritto. "Coming off the pre-season we were a little shaky so it was good to get a solid win."
The lead would not last long as the Pioneers answered back almost immediately with a goal in the 14th minute by Chris Lara.
The score remained tied at one until halftime but it didn't take long for SFU to re-take the lead in the second half.
At the 49 minute mark,
Jules Chopin (Kaslo, BC) scored, unassisted, to re-claim the Clan's one goal lead, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the contest as SFU took the season opening victory.
Transfer goalkeeper
Scott Shewfelt (London, ON) got his first start as a member of the Clan and recorded the victory, making four saves in the process.
