Redhawks pull away in final minute of Friday's back-and-forth battle

VALLEJO, Calif. – Do not let the final score fool you: For 88 minutes of Friday's Cal Pac Conference match at Bodnar Field, Cal Maritime and Benedictine Mesa thrilled a packed house with endless action from one end of the field to the other. 

Following two Redhawk goals, scored just over two minutes from one another midway through the second half, Cal Maritime pulled within one in the 72nd minute when a pass from Luka Bilaver from outside the penalty area was perfectly placed for Jasen Nicolas to blast a shot into the back of the net, pulling the Keelhaulers within one with a healthy portion of the game still remaining.

As the clock neared zeroes, CSUM had no choice but to press on offense to create an opportunity to net the equalizer but saw the Redhawks score a pair of goals with just over a minute left to play on turnovers that led to counterattacks and 1v1 situations.

Cal Maritime will end its weekend at Bodnar Field when Park Gilbert visits for a 1:30 p.m. tilt on Sunday. The Keelhaulers will enter that contest with a 0-7 overall and 0-5 Cal Pac record.

Benedictine Mesa will continue its season at 5-5-1 and 4-2-1.