Box Score Box score

HAYWARD, Calif. - The Pioneer men's soccer team knew their opener against Missouri-St. Louis would prove a challenge. The Tritons are one of the premiere Division II men's soccer programs and a team that beat the Pioneers in post-season play twice during the 80's. Cal State East Bay was up to the task giving the Tritons all they could handle in a 1-0 defeat.

“We made some adjustments and had a great second half,” Pioneer head coach Andy Cumbo said. “The offensive opportunities we created put UMSL on its heels.”

The first half proved a classic battle between a potent Triton offense and a tenacious Pioneer defense. The Tritons' Peter Hyde missed a wide-open shot in the second minute of the match. Cal State East Bay quickly recovered with a quick rush down field, but was unable to get off a shot.

A header by the Tritons' Mike McCarthy was denied by Pioneer goalkeeper Bryce Bookhammer in the seventh minute. The Pioneers' Rey Suarez put a shot over the net in the 16th minute.

McCarthy had two shots including one that hit the crossbar in the 22nd minute.

Christian Lara hit a great corner kick, but the Pioneers were unable to get a shot off while Javier Martin's header was wide in the 27th minute.

The Tritons scored in the 33rd minute as Johnny O'Mara took a pass from Hyde and beat Bookhamer with the only goal of the match.

Cal State East Bay opened the second half by putting pressure on the Tritons' defense as Lara's shot was saved by Tim Boruff and Martin's shot just went wide of the net in the 50th minute.

In the 62nd minute, Martin's shot was blocked and Lara made another great corner kick, but the Pioneers were unable to get a shot off.

The Tritons nearly iced the match in the 80th minute, but Bookhamer turned away a shot by Jordan Bruce.

The Pioneers Daniel Borst shot in the 86th minute was saved by Boruff giving the Tritons the hard earned victory.

Cal State East Bay was outshot 8-7 in the match.

“We played a good match,” Cumbo said. “Overall, our backline did a good job. I felt that Rey Suarez created scoring opportunities out on the field and Javier Martin got some good shots on goal. Andres Ponce played effectively in the second half.”

Cal State East Bay will host Dominican University on Sept. 3 in the second round of the Cal State East Bay Fall Classic. The match will begin at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Stadium.