Box Score OAKLAND, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's soccer team opened Pacific West Conference action on the right foot with a 3-2 win over Holy Names University Tuesday at T-Bird Stadium.
It's the first time in program history the Silverswords (2-3 overall, 1-0 PacWest) won their conference opener as
Austin Bush,
Lukas Pousset and
Colton Gallt each found the back of the net. It was also the 'Swords' first three-goal game since September 17, 2012.
'Swords goalkeeper
Bernd Buescherhoff made five saves and earned the win, improving to 2-2. Griffin Thomas took the loss for Holy Names (2-5, 0-1) to fall to 1-5.
Chaminade opened the scoring in the 23
rd minute as Bush took a
Nicolas Ferro feed, worked his way through the Hawks' defense and fired a shot into the net as Thomas came out to challenge Bush, who scored his third goal of the season.
HNU's Chris Gonzalez's goal in the 28
th minute would deadlock the score at 1 going into the half.
The 'Swords responded in the second as Pousset took a Bush feed and scored from 15 yards out in what proved to be the game-winner in the 61
st minute, Pousset's second of the year. Chaminade added an insurance goal in the 76
th minute as Gallt took a mishandled ball in front of the Hawks' net and punched it in from three yards for his first goal of the season.
James Meaney was credited with the assist.
HNU made things interesting, scoring on a Tomas Horak penalty kick in the 86
th minute to close to 3-2, but the 'Swords managed to stave off the Hawks in the closing seconds to hold on for the win.
The Silverswords attempted 15 shots, 10 on goal, both season-highs. The Hawks held the advantage in corner kicks, 8-1.
"I'm very proud of the boys' effort today," Silverswords head coach
Zach Kingsley said. "They stuck to our game plan and finished our chances.
"It's another big step forward for us today, but there are still many more to come. We will enjoy this today, but turn our focus to Dominican and becoming a better team tomorrow."
The 'Swords will look to improve to 2-0 in the conference for the first time ever when they face the Penguins on Thursday.
