SOCCER (M)

9/11/09 - Royals Control Simpson To Open Northern Cal Road Trip

Redding, CA- From the beginning of their match with Simpson, the Royals applied the pressure and walked away with a 3-0 win to kickoff their Northern California road trip on Friday.  Sophomore Jesus Ramos put the Royals on the board in the 20th minute.  Freshman Austin Lane capped the scoring in the second half with a goal by Freshman Edgar Bran sandwiched in between.

Though the Royals (3-1-1) did not get off a shot until the 10th minute when Bran headed a corner kick over the goal, they were serving dangerous balls into the box from the opening whistle but just could not connect.

Freshman Matt Howard fired off a few shots with one on goal but not in the goal within a few minute of each other.

Eventually the Royals cashed in a goal when Ramos crossed a ball from left side to the right side that found Junior Anthony Magana.  Two touches later, Magana fired a ball back to the left side that found Ramos on the back post.  Ramos controlled the ball and buried it into the net for his second goal of the season.

The score remained 1-0 until the 56th minute when Howard dribbled into the box and was shoved to the ground for a penalty kick.  Bran converted the kick for a 2-0 lead.  The goal was Bran’s seventh of the season.

Just over a minute later, Bran ripped off a shot headed for the top shelf.  Redhawks’ goalkeeper Matt Deacon managed to get just enough of his fingertips on the ball to push it over the crossbar.  On the ensuing corner kick, Magana played a ball into the box and Bran put another shot on frame that Deacon deflected away but left in play.  After several failed clearing attempts by the defense, Lane, pictured at right, slid inside the six yard box, put a foot on the ball and knocked it home for his first collegiate goal.

The Royals had a few more chances including after Head Coach Joe Lurker emptied his bench but just could not find the net again. The Royals out shot the Redhawks 19-4 and dropped them to 0-4 on the season.

On Saturday, the Royals will be back down in Sacramento for an 11:00 am kickoff with William Jessup at Mahany Field.

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