Box Score By Michael Wells
Sports Information Director
REDLANDS, Calif. — Ben Murray (Sandpoint, ID) scored a pair of goals for the second straight game and the Occidental College men's soccer team was as good as its been all season in spurts, but the Tigers fell short in their quest to knock of No. 21 Redlands, losing to the first place SCIAC team 6-2 on the road.
It sounds like a devastating loss at a time when points are so crucial and hard to come by until you consider that the only goal the undefeated Bulldogs (11-0) had given up in conference play prior to Wednesday, was to Murray and the Tigers back in September.
"For about half of that game we were equal if not better. It was 3-2, we were right in the game then they capitalized on our mistakes," Occidental men's soccer coach Rod Lafaurie said. "If we play like we did at times today, we can beat anybody."
Lafaurie said the difference, that was so evident on the scoreboard, between the seasoned Redlands squad and a young, but talented Oxy team was maturity.
"It just came down to maturity and individual mistakes," Lafaurie said. "It's usually the sign of a young team, a lack of focus. … And you'll give up goals when you lose your focus."
If it weren't for several defensive lapses that Redlands almost always turned into points, the Tigers may have been able to ride Murray's recent hot streak to an upset.
One game after scoring two goals against the University of La Verne on Saturday, Murray beat the Bulldogs goalkeeper on a one-on-one in the 8th minute and finished a rebound in the 60th minute.
"He's a great player," Lafaurie said. "No doubt about it."
Murray's second goal brought the Tigers (4-7, 4-11) within one early in the second half, 3-2. From there though, any hope the Tigers had of knocking off Redlands quickly faded when the Bulldogs scored three unanswered goals.
The Tigers return home to play Pomona-Pitzer at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Oxy's playoff hopes are still alive. With a couple of wins and some help, there is still the possibility of the Tigers grabbing the fourth SCIAC playoff spot.
"Every game is important. Even if we would have won (against Redlands) it still would have been just three points," Lafaurie said. "When we're good, we're as good as anyone. It's just being consistent. That's the key for us."
