Cal Maritime and Simpson split season series

VALLEJO, Calif. – Earlier this season when they met at Bodnar Field, Cal Maritime earned its first victory over Simpson in program history. In Thursday afternoon's return match at California Soccer Park, the Keelhaulers worked hard throughout the entire match to replicate last month's result.

Seeking their first victory over the Red Hawks on their home turf, the Keelhaulers outshot their hosts, 14-12, and finished with seven shots on goal compared to Simpson's six. Both teams finished with five corners and Simpson collected seven saves vs. Cal Maritime's three.

In the one stat column that matters the most, Simpson's late strike iced cemented the overall result by building an advantage too large for Cal Maritime to erase, as the Red Hawks secured a 3-0 win and a split of the season's series.

Jose Diaz ended the match with a game-high four shots, Sam Jauregui, Maxime Jolley, Davis Ott and Nicolas Rodriguez ended with two shots apiece.

Thursday's result sets up an exciting last two weeks of the season with each team battling for a spot in the Cal Pac's year-end postseason tournament. Pacific Union, Cal Maritime and Simpson are tied for the fourth, and final playoff spot with one win each; Westcliff sits one win ahead of the trio in the conference standings.

Cal Maritime will return to action on October 24 when it visits Stanton before ending its Southern California trip two days later at Westcliff