SAN DIMAS, Calif. – Eastern Oregon men's soccer capped their preseason trip with a Wednesday morning win, defeating Life Pacific 4-0 at San Dimas Sportsplex. The Mountaineers (3-0-2) extended their unbeaten streak to five matches behind a balanced attack and a stifling defensive effort.
Midfielder Pablo Cardenas-Sanchez opened the scoring in the 34th minute off an assist from Henry Lopez, giving EOU a 1-0 advantage at the break. Lopez proved to be the catalyst throughout the match, recording three assists on the day.
The Mounties doubled their lead in the 52nd minute when defender Austin Tesch found the back of the net on another feed from Lopez. EOU continued to apply pressure, adding two more goals in a three-minute span late in the second half—Milton Hernandez scored in the 79th minute before Marcos Bravo capped the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 80th.
Eastern Oregon outshot the Warriors 17-8 and placed 11 shots on goal. Life Pacific (0-4-0) was unable to find a rhythm offensively, and EOU's defensive duo of Victor Melendez and Kevin Pullara combined for six saves in the shutout.
Lopez led all players with three shots on goal and accounted for 75 percent of EOU's assists. Cardenas-Sanchez, Hernandez, Tesch, and Bravo each tallied one goal.
Life Pacific goalkeeper Alberto Orozco made seven saves, but the Warriors couldn't overcome the first-half deficit.
Eastern Oregon will return to Oregon next weekend to open conference play on the road in Portland against Warner Pacific on Friday at 2:30 p.m.