Bilaver's brace highlights first game of team's final road trip

LANCASTER, Calif. - Jose Diaz scored his third goal within the last three games in the 19th minute of Thursday's Cal Pac Conference matchup at Lancaster National Soccer Center to pull Cal Maritime even with Antelope Valley after the host Pioneers scored the first goal of the afternoon four minutes before CSUM recorded its first-half equalizer.

Knotted at one apiece, the score remained that way until UAV pulled ahead in the 33rd minute — a score that remained untouched for the rest of the opening half.

Thursday's fierce battle continued throughout the second half with the Pioneers doubling their advantage five minutes after action resumed.

Undaunted, Cal Maritime continued with their game plan and created numerous scoring opportunities as the game continued; its persistence was rewarded in the 77th minute when Luka Bilaver scored his second goal of the season, and second within a three-game timespan, to pull the Keelhaulers within one with just over 12 minutes remaining on the scoreboard.

Five minutes of play ended up being the difference in this game because Antelope Valley responded to Bilaver's strike by netting a pair of its own within the block of time to pull away and defeat Cal Maritime, 5-3, in another closely contested conference clash inaccurately represented by the final score.

Bilaver provided the final highlight for CSUM when he recorded a brace in the 89th minute to become the third Keelhauler in as many games to accomplish this feat. In last Thursday's home victory versus Providence Christian, Diaz and Nikhil Hunter each struck twice for CSUM. 

Led by Diaz and Bilaver with four and two, respectively, all eight of Cal Maritime's shots were on goal.

The Keelhaulers will wrap-up their final road trip of 2023 on Saturday when it squares off against Saint Katherine in an 11 a.m. contest in Oceanside, California, at Mira Costa College. They will enter that road finale with a 1-11 overall and 1-8 Cal Pac record.