RIVERSIDE, CA- The Lions were unable to push past the Golden Eagles of La Sierra University on Thursday night in Riverside, CA, getting edged out 5-4 after the match went into two overtime periods.

The Golden Eagles scored back-to-back goals in the eighth and tenth minutes of the match. Soka's Noah Alexander responded forty-eight seconds later, netting his first career goal for the Lions off of an assist from Jesus Cabrera and bringing the score to 2-1.

Jared Chavez leveled the score to 2-2 in the 53rd minute with a first-time finish off Dylan Fox's cross. However, two minutes later, La Sierra tallied the go-ahead goal, followed by their fourth goal at the 74:24 minute mark bring the score to 4-2.

The Lions did not let down and remained persistent, and Fox converted his header off of Gera De La Torre's corner kick to net his first career goal for Soka and to put his side within reach of the equalizer.

With three minutes remaining in regulation play, the Lions were awarded a free-kick. De La Torre bent his service into the box, and Alexander headed his shot into the goal to tie the game and send the match into overtime.

Both the Lions and the Golden Eagles remained deadlocked for the first ten-minute overtime period. With one minute remaining in the second overtime, the Golden Eagles were awarded a penalty kick, to which they finished, ending the game with a final score of 5-4.

"Coming from behind to put the match into overtime was a great show of character," said Head Coach Shawn Beyer. "The team stayed the course despite going down two goals early. There were moments we played some really good soccer. It was a very competitive match that could have gone either way in the end. With three games in seven days, we quickly turn towards another away match at Providence Christian on Saturday."

The Lions remain on the road and travel to Providence Christian College to face the Sea Beggars on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
 
 
 
Game Notes: The Golden Eagles outshot the Lions 13-5… Soka's Riley Grosso made five saves on the day… yellow cards were given to La Sierra's Manuel Zendejas, Alex Magana, and the Golden Eagles' bench… Soka's Chase Buchert was also shown two yellows.