HONOLULU – The 2023 season for the Chaminade University men's soccer team, for the most part, has been a work in progress.
On Thursday, the Silverswords put together one of their more solid performances, a come-from-behind 1-1 draw against a solid Biola University squad at Saint Louis Field.
Kainoa Carpenter (Kahului, Maui, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Maui) ripped victory away from the Eagles, scoring the tying goal in the 85th minute.
The draw pushed the 'Swords' record to 0-8-3 on the year and 0-4-2 in the Pacific West Conference. Biola is 4-6-3 and 2-2-1.
Although they were outshot by a 24-to-5 count, the Silverswords withstood the barrage with the help of goalkeeper
Brandon Yasue (Honolulu/Kaiser) and his 10 saves.
For the first 81 minutes, defenses ruled with both Yasue and his Biola counterpart Aidan Burns keeping clean sheets. However, Chaminade was called for a handball in the box, resulting in a successful penalty kick by Tom Irion to put the Eagles in front.
Carpenter, who was reinserted into the game after a 27-minute breather, made the substitution pay off.
Oliver Horgan (Reno, Nev./Cal Poly Humboldt/Galena HS) gathered in a loose ball with 4:09 left, then tapped a pass to Carpenter past the midfield line where he beat two defenders on a breakaway. Burns abandoned the net in an attempt to challenge him at the 30-yard line but Carpenter eluded him and, with no one between him and the net, chipped in the easy equalizer, his team-leading third goal of the season.
Neither team was able to get off a good look in the final four minutes as the teams settled for the draw.
Horgan,
Ryan Anderson (Carlsbad, Calif./Cal State Monterey Bay/San Marcos HS),
Alessio Franco (Guadalajara, Mexico/East Grand Rapids, Mich.) and
Jordan Ponsar (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream) also had kicks at the net for the 'Swords.
The Silverswords will face PacWest newcomer Westmont College for the first time in program history in their next match, Saturday at the Saint Louis pitch. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
