Junior defender Wes Lorrens scored the lone goal for St. Thomas with three minutes left, finishing the game with a 4-1 loss to California Baptist University Monday at South Field.
Lorrens’ goal gave the Tommies (0-7-1) some hope in the final minutes of play, but it was not enough to propel them past the four goal onslaught brought on by the Lancers (5-1-1).
“I think it was the spark inside of a bunch of us coming into the game,” Lorrens said. “I was a sub and we had probably six other subs on the field.”
St. Thomas played 11 substitutes in the contest, with only five players not entering the game. However, fresh players were unable to make up for the four goal deficit already created by a pair of goals by a pair of Lancer players.
Senior midfielder Tete Vacas scored his goals early in the first half of the match followed by junior striker Bryan Iliohan’s goals in the 49th and 54th minutes.
“We found ourselves giving up consecutive goals; it’s always hard to get out of that, but I thought the fourth goal was probably the hardest one,” coach Jon Lowery said.
The fourth goal was set up by a St. Thomas handball in the goal box creating a penalty kick opportunity for California Baptist, which Iliohan capitalized on.
Despite giving up four goals, the Tommies outshot the Lancers 11-10 in the match.
“We had to put away our chances when we got them. We had plenty, especially at the end there; we just have to put more away,” sophomore goalkeeper Tucker Mann said.
Mann had five saves in the 78 minutes he played before he was replaced by sophomore Christian Engel.
St. Thomas will now begin Summit League play against Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Lowery has faith that things are looking up for his squad.
“I think it’s going to be a refreshing start for us to kind of stop the pattern that we’ve been on,” Lowery said.
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.