ALISO VIEJO, CA- Soka's senior central defender Hunter Stewart scored the overtime game-winning goal in the Lions' 2019 season home opener against the San Diego Christian College Hawks on Wednesday evening.

Senior midfielder Yauri De Groot kick-started the Lions' offensive efforts after finishing his direct free kick from 25 yards outside the 18-yard box just three minutes into the match. De Groot bent his shot around the Hawks' defensive wall, placing his shot low, and into the far post for the early lead. However, San Diego Christian answered back of in the 39^th minute after a long throw-in from Francois Ekyoci connected with Edinzandro Morales for the equalizer.

San Diego Christian took the lead in the 46^th minute of play after Arthur Zertuche served a deep pass to Francisco Gonzales at the top right corner of Soka's penalty box. Gonzalez hit a right-footed full volley which grazed past the hands of Soka's outstretched Maxwel Barainca giving the Hawks the 2-1 lead for the next 30 minutes of play.

Soka striker, sophomore Gerardo De La Torre found the equalizer in the 77^th minute after receiving the ball at his feet 20 yards outside of the Hawks' goal. With defenders sprinting towards him, De La Torre picked up his head, took the half-chance, and blasted his shot high and into the back post, leveling the score at two apiece, and ultimately sending the Lions and the Hawks into overtime.

With 4:28 remaining to play in the first overtime period, the Lions earned a corner kick and De La Torre sent his service second-six towards his teammates who were crashing the goal.  The mid-goal pass found Stewart's head, who soared above his defender, and redirected his shot past the Hawks' goal keeper for the golden-goal and game winner, lifting the Lions to their first win of the 2019 season.

Up next, Soka will host Multnomah University on Saturday Aug. 24, 2019. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
 








Notes: This is the ninth meeting between the Lions and the Hawks…overall Soka's all-time record against San Diego Christian is 3-5-1… this is the third time in program history Soka has defeated San Diego Christian College… The last time the Lions won was on Aug. 23, 2014 (4-1), while their first victory against the Hawks came on Sept. 14, 2010 with a 2-1 overtime win… Soka outshot San Diego Christian 38-17… De Groot led the Lions in shots (14) and found frame five times… Soka's Barainca made four saves on the day…yellow cards were shown to San Diego Christian's Goehler and Gonzalez.