The University of Redlands men's soccer team almost completed a late-game comeback in Claremont on Monday evening, but the comeback effort came up just short as the Bulldogs fell to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 1-2.  With the defeat, Redlands and CMS split the season series with both sides winning on their home pitch.

The Maroon and Gray fell behind in the 10th minute when Ethan Hallberg slotted home a ball from six yards out after there was a scramble in the box.

For the remainder of the half, both sides traded a few good opportunities, but the defenses held strong, taking the match into the break at 1-0. 

In the second stanza, Redlands began to push the tempo and create more opportunities.  Freshman forward Matt Speegle (Castro Valley, CA) almost tied the game for the Bulldogs when he got behind the Stags' defense and beat the goalkeeper to the through-ball, but his shot went wide of the goal.

CMS doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Ian Shelton one-timed a shot four yards from goal into the back of the net.

Not going down without a fight, however, the Maroon and Gray continued to create chances and pushed forward in search of a goal.  The breakthrough finally came in the 88th minute when Redlands junior midfielder Matej Kustura (Las Vegas, NV) blasted a right-footed shot, 22 yards from goal, into the top-right corner of the net. 

Watch Kustura's goal here.

Knowing it still needed to find the equalizer, the U of R pushed everyone forward during the final two minutes of regulation.  With one final corner-kick opportunity and all eleven Bulldog players in the Stag's 18-yard box, a cross was hit into the mixer.  Despite numerous players challenging for the header, the ball was cleared, and the game ended.

In the hard-fought contest, Redlands outshot CMS 9-4 in the second half, but was outshot on the game, 11-14.  Kustura led the attack for the U of R, racking up five shots with four going on frame.

Redlands (9-4-0, 9-4-0 SCIAC) returns home on Saturday for another Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) matchup when it takes on Caltech (0-14-0, 0-12-0 SCIAC).  Kickoff at Farquhar Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.