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Postseason-weary Brigade settles for tie with Seahorses
| Saturday, Jun 28 2008 10:31 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jun 28 2008 10:37 PM
Battling for a PDL playoff berth, the Bakersfield Brigade needed a win Saturday night against the Southern California Seahorses at Bakersfield Christian High School.
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Instead the Brigade had to settle for a 1-1 draw after allowing a second half own goal.
Bakersfield dominated possession leading to 5 shots on goal, while Southern California -- the lowest scoring team in the division -- was held to one shot on goal.
The draw puts the Brigade in sixth place in the PDL Southwest Division with 16 points and just four games remaining.
"We know we can't afford a tie anymore," said Brigade head coach Francisco Gomez. "Walking away here with one point, nothing against the opponent, but I definitely think we had the better game."
The Brigade (3-2-7) was looking for a season sweep of the Seahorses (2-6-3) after taking the first match between the two clubs 1-0 on May 24 in La Mirada.
Leo Munoz put the Brigade up 1-0 in the 23rd minute with his second goal of the season.
Munoz took control of the ball on a Southern California turnover and blasted a long shot from the right side of the pitch that ended up in the far corner of the goal past diving Southern California goal keeper Greg Larson.
The Seahorses tied the match at one apiece in 59th minute on the own goal by the Brigade's Cameron Walters as he attempted to clear the ball.
"It's unlucky but we've got to be smarter there," Gomez said. "If we're thinking about clearing the ball it's got to be out of bounds and not towards our goal. That's just a mental lapse right there that we can't afford in the back."
Brigade goal keeper Eric Franco took responsibility for the miscue
"It's my mistake," Franco said. "It happens some times. We had our opportunities though. We can't just blame it on that. It's been a tough last couple of games for us but hopefully we can pick it up the last few games that we have."
Jason Ashurst, normally a starting defender for the Brigade, played up front in and had several shots on goal. In the 19th minute Ashurst took a long lead pass from Ken Taylor Jr. and fired an open shot that Larson was able to field cleanly.
Ashurst narrowly missed giving the Brigade an insurance goal early in the second half but his header off the foot of Munoz was wide.
Bakersfield also nearly scored in the eighth minute but Wes Feighner's left-footed short-range attempt was just high.
Despite the tie and loss of two valuable points in the standings, the Brigade still believe they can make the playoffs.
"It's going to be tough," Franco said. "There's no doubt it's going to be real tough to get back up there and have the possibility of going to the playoffs. We've got to win out, nothing less."
The Brigade plays its final regular-season home game next Saturday night against the San Francisco Seals.