UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 29, 2024

Lancers shoot past men’s, women’s soccer

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A different storm delayed Dixie State University men’s and women’s soccer matches before both teams lost to California Baptist University 2-1.

After hour-and-a-half weather delays, the Cal Baptist Lancers accumulated two-goal leads in Storm soccer’s Pacific West Conference openers Saturday at Hansen Stadium. The men’s and women’s teams scored late, cutting the deficit to one score and opening opportunities for equalizers, but both started conference play with a loss.

Men’s Soccer

Outscored 2-0 and outnumbered 11 men to 10 after DSU freshman goalkeeper Hayden Matthews received a red card, the team somehow found a late-match surge.

Storm sophomore defender Bryan Baugh’s 63rd minute goal came three minutes after Matthews’ red card, providing the Lancers an advantage compounded with their lead. Unable knock another goal in, DSU dropped to 0-4-1 overall and 0-1 in conference, but head coach Danny Ortiz said late-game lessons will go a long way on the team’s impending road trip.

As the Storm face off against conference foes during the season’s remainder, they mustn’t back down early against strong teams like Cal Baptist, he said.

“[The Lancers] are always top of the conference, so it’s tough competition,” Ortiz said. “So we just need to pick up all of the intensity early. That makes all the difference.”

Ortiz said when a motivated team finds itself in tough positions like being a man down, obstacles shouldn’t matter, and the Storm’s slew of four Hawaii road matches next week provide a perfect opportunity to capitalize on opportunities toward the match’s end.

Midfielder Kris Evans, a sophomore integrated studies major from Draper, said success in the Pacific West Conference and on the road requires tighter play than the Storm exhibited Saturday. Cal Baptist outshot DSU 12 to nine and further distanced itself with seven shots on target compared to the home team’s three.   

The men’s soccer team plays Brigham Young University-Hawaii Saturday in the first match of its road trip in Laie, Hawaii.

Women’s Soccer

Spurred by on-point throw-ins and set pieces, the Storm scored their first Pac West Conference goal in the 80th minute of Saturday afternoon’s game.

Freshman midfielder Darian McCloy’s late-match volley followed the Lancers’ two successful penalty kicks, which gave them the lead from the 27th minute on.  Bolstered by free kicks in the final 10 minutes, DSU women’s soccer found late opportunities, but failed to convert — dropping to 2-4-1 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Head coach Kacey Bingham said soccer is built on momentum, and sometimes it takes just moments of great team play to create a huge lead. The team’s four-game road trip next week will determine its ability to create game-changing plays.

“Momentum has to come from each player who steps out on the field; that’s what determines which team has an advantage,” she said.

Forward Jennifer Mason, a senior accounting major from Springville, pushed the ball to the Lancers’ net throughout and said the Storm’s seniors have a chance to help the team finish in the Pac West’s top two. DSU created opportunities, she said, but must practice executing them.  

The women’s soccer team plays Brigham Young University-Hawaii Saturday in the first match of its road trip in Laie, Hawaii.