ROCKLIN, Calif. - In a back-and-forth match between two former Cal-Pac rivals, Jessup Men's Soccer was able to out-do the Simpson Red Hawks, winning 4-3, putting their record at 1-2.
 
After the game, Head Coach Greg Lazaga was happy with a win but also wants to see improvement. "In the end, we came away with a win. We can be happy about that," said Lazaga. He went on to say, "After the first ten minutes, we settled into a rhythm on the ball and were more patient and demonstrated some creativity. Out of it, we created some good pressure on goal and finished a couple of chances that gave us a comfortable lead."
 
There was a lot of action as this match got going, and initially, the Red Hawks had momentum as they scored the first goal in just the second minute. The Warriors quickly responded as Grayson Romig received the ball off a deflection on a corner kick and found the back of the net to even the score at one apiece.
 
In the final moments of the first half, the Warriors pushed ahead with a pair of goals. In the thirty-third minute, Josh Freeman was on the attack and connected with Paul Anderson. Shortly after, in the thirty-eighth minute, Danny Ascencio stole the ball, dribbled in, and put the Warriors up 3-1.
 
Simpson kept things interesting as Ruben Barajas scored in the eighty-eighth minute, but Jessup still lead, 4-3. The Warriors were able to control the ball in the waning moments effectively, and they hung on to get their first win of the season.
 
Lazaga continued by saying, "Our group needs to really focus in on key points pregame and execute on the field. Set pieces were a point of emphasis for us, and it hurt us again. If we can learn from these mistakes, our group will make major strides."
 
Next up on the schedule, the Warriors will host Oregon Tech on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., and that game can be streamed HERE.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter and Instagram).