RIVERSIDE — At this stage of the season, there’s no chance to correct a mistake inside the goal area.
A botched defensive clearance led directly to the match-winning goal as California Baptist University men’s soccer team ended its time in the Western Athletic Conference with a 3-2 loss in overtime to San Jose State on Wednesday night in the WAC Tournament semifinals at CBU Soccer Stadium.
“Some guys are going to look back on this one and not like what they see,” CBU coach Coe Michaelson said. “(San Jose State) came out with a bit of zip in overtime and we missed a clearance, and the next thing you know it’s game over.”
Adolfo Pino scored in the first half, and Liam Jones added a second goal late in the second half to force overtime for top-seeded CBU (10-4-3 overall), the WAC regular-season champion in its final year before moving to the Big West in 2026.
“I thought we had the opportunities to win it in regulation, and I thought we created a lot of great chances in the second half, but I think the biggest difference is we missed William (Lawson),” Michaelson said.
CBU’s sophomore center back, Lawson sustained a hamstring injury in training during the week and was not available to play.
The Lancers, who won the WAC Tournament the last time they hosted in 2023, have captured three WAC trophies over the last four years but are unlikely to receive an at-large berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
“We won the regular season and whenever you get a trophy that’s a level of success, but we wanted that game on Saturday and a chance to get into the tournament on merit,” Michaelson said.
CBU controlled the ball for large portions of the first half, moving the ball across the field with sharp off-the-ball movements and crisp passing.
Pina pounced on an opportunity to take the lead in the 33rd minute, scoring to finish off a sequence that started with a corner kick but bounced around before Stavros Charalampous, the WAC defensive player of the year, chipped in into the mix and Pino poked it into the back of the net.
San Jose State (12-3-4) got on the scoreboard near halftime off a set piece, as Dane Pendleton headed in a ball played back into the mix from a corner kick. The Spartans then grabbed the lead in the 70th minute with a well-struck left-footed free kick from Angel Iniguez that curved out of the reach of CBU goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego.
“In my opinion, these were the two best teams, and it’s just unfortunate that we had to meet in a semifinal,” Michaelson said.
Jones, an WAC all-freshman team pick, threatened to score throughout and netted his fifth goal of the season on a pass from forward Blake D’Agostino to bring CBU level in the 72nd minute.
In overtime, San Jose State pushed the attack and earned a quick corner kick that turned into the match-winner when CBU failed to control the ball and escape pressure before Arnold Matshazi put a third attempt on goal past a sprawling Do Rego.
San Jose State advances to play Grand Canyon in the WAC tournament final Saturday at CBU Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The NCAA Tournament selection show is Sunday.
