Bulldogs edge CMS, prep for tournament

The 23rd-ranked University of Redlands men's soccer team used its potent offense to lift itself over conference rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges by a 3-2 final on Saturday in Claremont.

With the win, the Bulldogs ensured a third meeting between the two teams in the first round of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament on Thursday. Redlands has had the upper hand in the series thus far this year as the maroon and gray has won both matches by scores of 2-0 and 3-2.

The Stags struck first when Tomislav Zbozinek netted a goal in the 43rd minute, giving the home team a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

Momentum returned to Redlands' favor in the 47th minute as senior midfielder Bryan Fakkema (Oak Harbor, WA) scored the equalizing goal on a penalty kick.

Mitchell Nguyentat fired a Kevin Festini pass to the back of the net just two minutes later, and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps regained the lead 2-1.

Amidst brief periods of rain, both teams were unable to make a move offensively for nearly 20 minutes until junior midfielder Nick Gundersen (Park City, UT) headed in a goal off of a touch from senior forward Ross Schunk (Portland, OR).

With less than five minutes left to play, Gundersen tallied his second goal of the match when he pounded a cross by senior midfielder Steve Chenes (Las Vegas, NV) home for the game-winning score.

Redlands (14-4-2, 12-0-2 SCIAC) hosts the semifinal round of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament on Thursday and squares off against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7:30 p.m. on Farquhar Field. The winner of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs.