SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Park University Gilbert's men's soccer team suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat against The Master's University on Thursday, Oct. 22, despite two goals from
Olli Saksinen and a second-half lead. The Buccaneers moved to 10-6 overall and 7-4 in GSAC play.
The Master's opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Saksinen equalized in the 45th minute to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1. Park-Gilbert came out strongly after the break, with
Florian Traebert scoring just 21 seconds into the second half off an assist from Saksinen to give the Buccaneers a 2-1 advantage.
The hosts responded in the 58th minute to level the match, but Park-Gilbert regained the lead in the 73rd minute when Saksinen scored his second goal of the game, assisted by
Caden Dosmann. The Master's answered with two goals in quick succession, scoring in the 78th and 79th minutes to turn the match around and claim the 4-3 victory.
The Buccaneers finished with 13 shots, including eight on target, compared with 24 shots and 15 on target for The Master's. Goalkeeper
Nicklas Lagesen made 11 saves, while Park-Gilbert earned five corner kicks to the hosts' two. Saksinen led the Buccaneers with two goals and an assist, while Traebert added a goal and Dosmann recorded an assist.
Park-Gilbert returns home Saturday, Oct. 24, to host Benedictine Mesa at 7:30 p.m. at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa.
