Casiple Sets Up Cal for 3-0 Win vs. Colgate

September 20, 2013

BERKELEY – Midfielder Seth Casiple played a beautiful ball over the defense to set up Alec Sundly for the first goal and later set up the last goal in fourth-ranked California’s decisive 3-0 win over Colgate on Friday on Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium. Sundly scored what was his second goal of the season at the 12:32 mark, and the Golden Bears led the rest of the way.

A heady playmaker, Casiple currently leads the Bears with four assists. Now a junior, the midfielder led Cal in assists in each of his two previous seasons; he collected six as a freshman in 2011 and seven as a sophomore in 2012.

After Sundly’s goal, the Bears took the 1-0 lead into halftime and then doubled the margin when junior forward Stefano Bonomo scored his second goal of the season at 53:32. Junior midfielder Connor Hallisey assisted on the goal with a blast that goalkeeper Ricky Brown saved into the path of Bonomo, who slammed it into the net.

Fifth-year senior Steve Birnbaum later scored his team-leading fourth goal of the year, heading in Casiple’s corner kick at 76:11, to make the score 3-0. Neither team recorded a shot the rest of the match.

Cal was glad to be back home after two away games and particularly after the last game – a 1-1 double-overtime tie at Penn State on Sept. 13.

“Our trip back to Penn State was very difficult,” Cal head coach Kevin Grimes said. “Going out on what should’ve been a nine-hour trip turned into 22 hours, so I think the guys are happy to be back in the confines of Edwards Stadium and Goldman Field.

“Overall the team put in a good performance today. Colgate just came off a great win against Cal State Fullerton, a team we played in preseason, so we knew they were very capable. Our guys put in a solid 90 minutes today.”

Cal remained unbeaten at 4-0-1 after the nonconference victory, while the Raiders fell to 1-6-0.

The Bears next host the College of Charleston on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.