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The men's soccer team stayed perfect at home beating Holy Names University 3-0 in their final preseason game Friday night.
Things started slow for the Wildcats in the first half. They couldn't muster much of an organized downfield attack, though the midfield struggle over possession was hard-fought throughout the night.
Key Wildcat defenders senior Byron Salata, freshman Chris Akwaja and junior goalkeeper Michael Keohane secured the shutout.
A goal by junior forward Evan Armstrong, resulting from a penalty kick, came in the final minutes of the first half. He had two goals in the Wildcats' first preseason game against visiting Yuba College.
Junior midfielder Kyle Crain thinks the team can learn from the game, he said.
"We didn't come out strong and didn't do a lot of things we wanted to do, but a 3-0 victory is a 3-0 victory," Crain said. "We move on from here and take our lessons with us."
The offensive highlight came halfway through the second half on a long goal from Crain, his second of the night.
He beat a pair of defenders along the left sideline and lifted a shot toward the goal from about 30 yards downfield. The ball sailed over the heads of Hawks defenders and just out of reach of the diving goalkeeper.
This sent Crain and the rest of the then-cleared 'Cats bench into a jumping, roaring, cheering frenzy as he sprinted across the field to celebrate with his teammates along the sideline.
Head coach Felipe Restrepo said Crain's play was fantastic.
"He was working so hard. He created a few chances for himself and his teammates, and he definitely finished a beautiful play." Restrepo said. "He's a talented player and we look forward to seeing more of that from him."
The pace of the game was erratic at times, with whistles blown for the dozens of fouls on both sides of the field. Hawks head coach Tim Hart chanted to himself, "don't foul, don't foul, don't foul," whenever his players were pressing hard on defense.
Some players, such as Armstrong, felt the frustration as well.
"I think the refs were using their whistles a little too much, and it took a little something away from the game," he said. "It happens, but you've just got to play through it, and I think we did that."
However, Restrepo found it to be helpful to his game plan at some points during the night.
"The game got a little bit chippy there for a while, but I think the referee did a good job of bringing it back in," Restrepo said. "Sometimes that just happens in soccer - you get a run of fouls and the game gets a little ugly. But because of it, the guys did a better job of organizing themselves and playing our game like they're supposed to."
With the preseason now over, the 'Cats go on the road to play Seattle University to open the official season Friday.
Julian Williamson can be reached at jwilliamson@theorion.com
Related links CCAA Standings Men's soccer schedule
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