California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

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Men’s Soccer Win Final Game of Season; Defeat Sonoma 1-0

Sophomore forward Rey Suarez takes a pass from
senior midfielder Andes Ponce.

CSU East Bay men’s soccer (5-8-5) ended their season Tuesday, defeating northern division rival Sonoma State (8-8-2) 1-0.

Sophomore forward Rey Suarez was able to dance around defenders in the Sonoma goal box. Including juking the Sonoma goalkeeper sophomore, Sean Taufer. He placed a sniper’s shot into the upper right side of the goal from the left side in the 46th minute of play. This goal was all the CSUEB squad needed.

“All I had was a one [versus] one that didn’t turn out right, all I had in mind was to take the goalkeeper out,” said Suarez while catching his breath.

“Rey is really dangerous, he’s a fast player.  He’s great while running with the ball which draws a lot of attention from the other team,” said Pioneer head coach Andy Cumbo.

On a chilly autumn evening as the sun was setting, senior midfielder and captain Florian Reppin was seen taking practice shots by himself, possibly contemplating what might happen on his very last game in a Pioneer’s jersey.

Reppin described in an interview with The Pioneer, what he thought of his season,  “It was up and down.  We had a rough start, took some tough losses and came back strong towards the end.”

As the match began, it looked like Sonoma State was going to dominate the match. They were controlling possession and probing the Pioneer’s defense looking for weaknesses to take an early shot and so they did.

However, junior goalkeeper Bryce Bookhammer made a clean diving stop to give the Pioneers a momentum shift.  He would be challenged on two breakaway attempts as the Seawolves made him work for his second shutout of the season.

Reppin was throwing his body around plowing a path for his forwards, creating plays and finding a clean path to the net.

The Pioneers, however, just could not capitalize on Sonoma State’s defensive miscues, which gave them temporary advantages.

As the Pioneers and Seawolves were playing a tough, gritty, physical game, Suarez could be seen skirting the wing with numerous breakaway attempts, showing a dazzling speed seen before, though he could not find a clean break to the net.

The Pioneers started struggling as the Seawolves began taking back control of the game midway through the first half.  Sonoma’s senior midfielder Jomed Tejan found himself  alone at the top of the goalkeeper box and blistered a screaming low shot toward the Pioneer net as Bookhammer did his best, desperately diving for a save. Bookhammer denied the skilled shooter as well as another laser shot by senior midfielder Graeme Mathers.

The defense started to pick up once again, as junior defender Paul Dewhurst began weathering shots on all sides, including a direct shot as teammate and junior defender Timo Bauerle fell back and tumbled after a Sonoma State rush.

As the second half was underway, the Pioneers had adjusted accordingly to match the schemes of the Seawolves, who were fighting back.

Suarez scored the would be game-winning goal as the Pioneers’ defense would hold the Seawolves to three shots on goal in the second half.

Consequently, that goal gave the team and Cumbo the win they were so desperately looking for in order to get their first win this season against Sonoma.

The Pioneers are losing their team captain Reppin and senior goalkeeper Rene Martinez. Martinez is ranked fourth in saves in the CCAA, sixth in save percentage and ninth in goals against average.  The performance of Bookhammer showed the coaches and team he can carry the load after Martinez’s departure.

As for Reppin, he will be continuing his Master’s Degree in business and playing semi-pro soccer as he watches youngster Derek “Duke” Driggs carry on the torch for the team in the 2013 season.

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California State University East Bay
Men’s Soccer Win Final Game of Season; Defeat Sonoma 1-0