HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's soccer team played their final home game of the 2018 season at the Saint Louis Field pitch Saturday, settling for a 1-all draw to Point Loma.
Tyler Ebisuya (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Iolani) tallied his first career goal by tapping in a
Davin Garma (Kalaheo, Kaua'i, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama) pass to put the Silverswords up.
The Sea Lions would counter with Tim Segfried's penalty-kick goal in the 78th minute, his conference-leading 15th of the year.
The 'Swords had several chances late to pull off the upset. A header by
Jamin Fonseca (Mililani, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Mililani) with less than a minute left in regulation went wide. They had another when a Point Loma yellow card on Matias Rodriguez with just five seconds left in the second overtime resulted in a Chaminade free kick from just outside the midfield line. The 'Swords then flooded the front of Sea Lion goal with attackers including goalkeeper
Michael Stafford (Honolulu/Iowa Western CC/Kalani). The subsequent kick was headed toward the goal by
Lyric De Leon (Kapolei, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Grand Canyon/Kapolei) but PLNU keeper Witkor Lasota managed to secure the ball as time expired.
The draw put Chaminade's record to 2-3-2 overall and 3-4-2 in the Pacific West Conference.
Meanwhile the tie damaged second-place Point Loma's hopes for a PacWest title as they pursue Azusa Pacific for the conference crown. Instead of earning three points for a win which would have given them 18, therefore just one win behind APU (21 points), the Sea Lions (9-5-1, 5-2-1 PacWest) could only settle for one which currently gives them 16 with just three games remaining.
In an intriguing case of strength versus strength, Point Loma entered the match as the third-highest goal scoring team in the PacWest at 2.21 per game while Chaminade was second in goals allowed at 1.33. On this day however, defense won out as the 'Swords held the Sea Lions to their lowest goal output in their last three matches.
Reece Hambly (Birmingham, England/Scottsdale CC/Hagley HS) took four shots for the 'Swords as did Fonseca. After being out-shot 9-3 in the first half, the Silverswords became the aggressors in the second, taking 11 shots to Point Loma's four.
Meanwhile Stafford lowered his goals against average to 1.271, passing Lasota who came into the match as the PacWest's GAA leader.
Point Loma's physical approach also led to seven total misconduct cards, four committed by PLNU.
It was the final home games for seniors
Kevin Anderson (Honolulu/Kaiser),
Jacob DeJesus (Union City, Calif./Ohlone College/James Logan HS),
Jaewon Huh (Aiea, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Aiea) and
Cody Kuge (Honolulu/Kaiser) who wore the royal blue and white for the final time in front of the home crowd.
However the 'Swords' season is far from over. They will wrap up the season with four straight games on the road starting Wednesday at Fresno Pacific.
