Men's Opening Soccer Game Ends in Tie

The Pacific Union College Pioneer soccer team played their first home game on Sunday, September 22, with the visiting University of the Pacific Tigers. The match, which was a non-league game, ended in a tie, 2-2.

"The game started off well with good passes and ball handling," said Don Anderson, a junior midfielder. PUC was up 2-1 with three minutes to go in the second half when UOP picked up the pace and tied the game.

Junior defenseman Rick Mann said playing high caliber teams like UOP do more for the Pioneers than just boost intensity. "It's more of a learning experience in seeing other schools work together--what their strategies are," said Mann. "It benefits our team because we learn how to play together, support each other, and recognize our skills."

"I think we're getting better with each game," said Satish Joshi, a sophomore defenseman.

The Pioneers will play Pacific Christian College at their next home game on Friday, September 27, at 2 p.m.

This is PUC's first year as a member of the California Pacific Conference (CAL-PAC) league, an affiliate of the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). PUC currently has a 1-0 record in league standings.