HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay men's soccer team cruised past Holy Names University by a score of 4-0 in the Pioneers 2017 season home opener on Friday night, September 1.
 
This is CSUEB's third straight season opener with a shutout victory and the second consecutive under head coach Mike Bielski after defeating Academy of Art 3-0 to kick off the 2016 season.
 
The Pioneers scored early and often in the first half of action, routinely applying pressure offensively to the Hawks back line of defenders. Although the Hawks outshot East Bay 12-8 for the game, it was CSUEB who converted four of their eight shots into points.
 
Newcomer TJ Butler, a senior transfer from Adelphi University, was first to light the scoreboard up for the 2017 Pioneers. Butler in his shot from the heart of the box after receiving a beautiful double pass through the Holy Names defense from both Brett Fuchs and Grant LaFleur in the 10th minute of play.
 
Brett Fuchs, a junior from Folsom, Calif., was very active early for East Bay. After racking up his second career assist on Butler's goal, Fuchs and his junior counterpart Jared Johnson connected for Fuchs' second career goal as a Pioneer. The Johnson to Fuchs score gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead in the 21st minute of play.
 
Soon after East Bay would find the net again in the 42nd minute when senior Evan Sanchez took a Chris Sumano pass in between two defenders to find the right side of the net for his second career goal as a CSUEB soccer player. For Sumano, a freshman from Redwood City was rewarded his first career assist on the play.
 
After clinging to a 3-0 lead at the intermission and their defense displaying some toughness the Pioneers would officially put the game away in the 73rd minute of play. Junior Ben Reiter knocked in his first career goal as a member of the East Bay men' soccer team. Reiter scored off of a rebound ricocheted off of the goalie after sophomore Shubham Kumar tried to put in his shot from the right side of the circle.
 
CSUEB Goalkeeper Carlos Moreno displayed his entire repertoire tonight, standing tall in the goal and coming away with seven total saves.
 
East Bay second year head coach Mike Bielski was proud of his team's effort in their season opening victory.
 
"It was good to get the win tonight in our opening match," Beilski said. "The guys deserved it. They've worked hard over the past three weeks. They understand this is just the beginning and we have a- ways to go. We need to be better to compete in the CCAA. They're a great group and I know they are up for the challenge."
 
The Pioneers will return to action on Sunday afternoon, September 3 as they travel Kezar Stadium in San Francisco to square off against Academy of Art.