CMS Men's Soccer Comes Up Short in SCIAC Finals, Awaits NCAA Postseason Fate

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Samay Rahim had a second half goal to give the CMS men's soccer team a chance at a second straight SCIAC Tournament comeback, but Redlands was able to hold on and take a 2-1 win over the Stags on Saturday evening at Pritzlaff Field.

The loss was the first that CMS suffered to a Division III opponent all season, as it heads into the NCAA selection process with a 14-2-3 overall record (14-1-3 against Division III) when bids are announced on Monday. Redlands will take the league's automatic bid with a 15-2-1 record, after finishing second to the Stags in the regular season. 

Avery Jacobson gave Redlands a 1-0 lead at the 13:13 mark, when he headed in his own rebound off the crossbar. That lead held until the Bulldogs were granted a penalty kick in the second half, and Collin ChubbFertal was able to convert to make it a 2-0 lead with 31:28 left. 

Rahim gave the Stags some life when he headed in a corner kick taken by Tommy Brown with 23:23 left, and Brown nearly assisted on a second goal when his cross found Will Barton in the 81st minute, but his header skimmed the crossbar and went just high. 

Eduardo De Anda had three saves, but took just the second loss of CMS career, and first this season, as his career record now stands at 22-2-3. Seth Lawrence had five saves for the Bulldogs. 

CMS was trying to repeat as conference champions after defeating Redlands 2-0 in the 2019 finals, which was also held at Pritzlaff Field. The Stags only prior loss this season had been in overtime to Westmont of the NAIA, way back on Sept. 3.