SAN BERNARDINO – Junior forward
Nicklaus Sullivan produced his third match-winning goal of the season Sunday as Cal State San Bernardino swept its home weekend matches by beating visiting Cal State East Bay, 2-1, in a CCAA conference match at Premier Field.
It was Sullivan's fourth goal of the season and was enough to improve the Yotes season record to 7-5-4 overall and 4-4-2 in the CCAA, heading into the regular season finale against Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 11:30 a.m. at Premier Field.
The Yotes lead the all-time series with the Pioneers 14-2-1 with the two losses coming in 1989 when both schools were in NCCA Division III and in 2015 in a CCAA contest.
As they did in Friday's 2-0 shutout of Cal State San Marcos, the Yotes were aggressive on offense and stingy on defense, outshooting the Pioneers 12-4 while the defense limited East Bay to just four shots, only two of which were on goal. One was saved by Yotes goalkeeper John Samano.
CSUSB didn't waste any time in the first half as
Brian Castillo scored an unassisted goal, his fifth of the season just 6:47 into the match. The Yotes held their lead, 1-0, at intermission.
The Yotes had a look at making it 2-0 early in the second half but
Travis Babineau's try in the 59
thminute was saved by Pioneer freshman goalie Adan Corona.
Missed shots by Castillo and
Victor Chavez occurred just before East Bay's Michael Rossi nailed the equalizer at 65:32 to even the match at 1-1.
Sullivan, CSUSB's leading shotmaker with 39 on the season, scored the match-winner at 68:53 and now has a team-high 13 points on the season with four goals and five assists.
Four other shots attempted by Yotes attackers missed or were blocked as the match ended. CSUSB had eight chances from corner kicks to produce goals and were called for offside four times.
A frustrated East Bay team was assessed four yellow cards to just one for the Yotes. The Pioneer's No. 2 scorer – Julian Valle – was sent off the pitch after his second yellow of the match which became a red card.
The Yotes are now 3-1-1 this season when Samano is in goal.
UP NEXT: Yotes host rival Cal Poly Pomona at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 in the regular season finale for both teams. CSUSB leads the all-time series 27-23-10 dating back to 1984, the Yotes first year in intercollegiate athletics.
