David Olsen’s overhead kick propelled the Seattle University Men’s soccer team to a resounding 3-1 victory over CSU Bakersfield Friday night at Championship Field, as the No. 19 Redhawks picked up their 11th win of the campaign.
Olsen began the scoring just seven minutes into the match, as he collected in the box before shaping up towards goal and calmly slotted the ball home. It was a perfect start for Seattle U, who once again through the use of their midfield diamond dictated the tempo against a quick and strong Roadrunner side. Just four minutes later it was Agustin Andrade who doubled the home side’s lead after latching on to Sergio Rivas’ cutback. It was Andrade’s second goal of the season and another fine use of Rivas’ gifted movement.
Sergio Rivas (7) makes a run towards the goal.
After jumping out to an early lead, the Redhawks became calm in possession and did a fantastic job exploiting the Bakersfield backline through forwards Olsen and Michael Roberts; however, it was once again Olsen who grabbed the attention of the crowd with a spectacular second goal of the match. After collecting a long through ball from Kyle Bjornethun and with the Roadrunner’s keeper Nicolas Clever committed, Olsen flicked over the top of Clever, backed his way in between two Bakersfield defenders and found the empty net with an inventive bicycle kick.
“We’ve seen him [Olsen] play a lot and that’s something that he knew that he had to get up in the air [and] get that thing on frame,” said head coach Pete Fewing. “He’s physically very strong but that was not a lucky goal. He completely intended to do that.”
Bakersfield was able to pull a goal back early in the second half but it was the Redhawks’ resounding defense that kept the two goal
advantage intact.
“Second half they were much improved, they pulled one guy from the back so they were playing with three at the back, which was smart, and they gave us a lot in the second half,” Fewing said. “Thank goodness we didn’t give up a second goal because all of the sudden it’s a cat fight and it’s a problem. We have to learn to deal with that kind of extra pressure. We’re going to see that a lot [later in the season].”
With the national ranking comes every opponent’s best effort, as Fewing was not shy to point out.
David Olsen (17) scores with a bicycle kick- his second goal of the game.
“Everybody we’re playing feels like if they beat us, they beat Washington, they beat Oregon State, they beat Harvard, they beat Dartmouth, they beat Santa Clara,” Fewing said, who also noted that his team’s early start was key to winning the match. “The early goals convince teams that we are living up to our 11-3 record. And we have to do that; we have to put teams under right away.”
The Redhawks followed up Friday night’s performance with a 1-0 win against San Jose State.
They next travel to Las Vegas and Phoenix to face UNLV and Grand Canyon University.
Women Kicked Off the Night Strong
After posting three different goal scorers the Seattle University Women’s soccer team comfortably edged out the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners by a score of 3-0.
Karli White scored her team leading seventh goal of the season in just the sixth minute after connecting on a cross from Julia Moravec. Seattle U enjoyed plenty of space high up the field as their three forwards made life difficult for Bakersfield to play out of the back. Rosalie Sittauer would score her first goal as a Redhawk with fifteen minutes left in the first half, after pouncing on an error from the Roadrunners’ goalkeeper Tori Ornela.
Emily Zimmer would go on to hit the crossbar with a wonderful volley from the top of the 18-yard box, but it was Kiana Kraft who extended the lead to three with just a minute left to play in the first half. After more good play down the left hand side, White broke free from her defender and was able to find Kraft in the middle, who coolly struck her finish into the side netting.
“I continue to be impressed with our shutouts because we pride ourselves on our defense,” said head coach Julie Woodward. “ I give credit to the whole team because we are putting pressure everywhere. I’m happy that we scored those three early goals and that we’re improving at the right part of the season. I’d like to see us be able to continue that intensity in the second half, but overall you have to be pleased with a 3-0 win.”
Although not able to build on the advantage in the second half, Woodward’s side was able to see out the rest of the match and not let Bakersfield get many looks on goal. After pounding the Roadrunner box with numerous crosses, Woodward hopes that her team can improve on finishing the services her team is getting. A lot of the positive forward play that the Redhawks have been enjoying has come from wide positions, which is an area of the pitch Woodward feels pleased to be so dangerous in.
“We have some pretty dynamic wide forwards. Karli White is a creative [1vs.1] player. Summer Mason’s speed is so dangerous and she gets by people. I think they are doing all the hard stuff; they just need to do the fun stuff and put the ball in the back of the
net [more].”
The Women’s side followed up their effort against Bakersfield with a 3-2 win over Grand Canyon University on Sunday. The Redhawks next travel to the Southwest and will face Bakersfield and Grand Canyon away.
Chaucer may be reached at [email protected]
