ROCKLIN, Calif. – Jessup returned to their home pitch on Tuesday to take on an old rival in the Simpson Red Hawks. A scoreless opening half was followed by a final 15 minutes of excitement, as a late goal gave Simpson a 2-1 advantage and the victory.
Head coach
Greg Lazaga offered his thoughts after the loss, stating, "That was a tough one. We had a game plan and a good idea of what to expect from Simpson. They defend and counter and play with a lot of heart."
A scoreless draw was the story of the opening half. The Warriors fired off five shots to Simpson's two, but none found the back of the net. Of those five shots by Jessup, two went on frame.
The scoreboard finally added a one in the 71st minute as a one-on-one opportunity created a scoring chance for Simpson. Christian Meza made his man miss before firing on goal. Goalkeeper
Gerardo Perez Plata got his hands on it, but the ricochet went into the net, sending Simpson's bench into jubilation.
But Jessup did not quit, as seven minutes later, a foul in the box awarded the Warriors a penalty, their first of the season.
Stepping up to the dot was
Diego Nunez, already with one goal to his record this season. Nunez converted on the chance, leveling the score at one with just over ten minutes remaining on the clock.
With both sides fighting for the winning goal, the ball went in Simpson's favor as Jaime Velasco scored in the 86th minute, all but sealing a victory for the visitors. The Warriors put up one last fight, as
Shea Gomberg whipped in a corner with ten seconds on the clock, but Nunez's header sailed high.
On the late fight, Lazaga would add, "We let the game get ugly, and it became a transition 50-50 game. I thought they played harder in moments that it mattered most. Not acceptable for us, and we have to do better."
The loss drops the Warriors to 3-2-0 on the season, while Simpson moves to 1-2-1.
Jessup will hit the road this weekend for a date with Fresno Pacific. This will become a regular trip moving forward as FPU calls the Pac West home, a conference the Warriors will be joining in 2024.
The Warriors will be back home on Warrior Field when Cal Maritime comes to town on September 13.
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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 Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
