Sept. 19, 2013
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State men's soccer team conceded a goal at the 83:29 mark and lost to the Santa Clara Broncos 1-0 on Thursday night in Spartan Stadium
"I was pleased with our competitiveness tonight," said head coach Gary St. Clair. "I think the boys deserved a better result than what we got. The difference between winning and losing is so small. We made a few mistakes and one cost us a goal and that was the difference."
In the 84th minute the Broncos Daivd Torres got loose down the left side and played the ball into the box. James Huffer redirected it under Spartan keeper Felix Petermann (0-4-0) who dove to stop the attempt. The ball went into the far corner of the net for what would turn out to be the game winner.
The teams played the first half nearly even on the score sheet. Santa Clara (2-4-0) out shot the Spartans 6-to-5 with each side putting one shot on goal, but San Jose State had three quality opportunities to get on the board first.
In the 12th minute Dylan West got free in the box and headed a ball just left of the open goal. Less than two minutes later, at the 13:29 mark, Eric Mendez was in the same situation, had an open goal, but headed his shot wide left as well. Then in the 29th minute, Mendez headed a ball from close on the left wing just past the left post. The teams went to the locker rooms tied 0-0.
In the second half the shots were even 4-to-4, and again the Spartans (0-5-1) had chances to score, but couldn't get the ball in the net.
In the 52nd minute, Mendez was open in the box with the ball and driving to the right side of an open goal. As he fired his shot, a trailing Santa Clara defender dove and blocked what looked to be the go-ahead goal.
Then at the 66:15 mark, Dylan West was issued a red card and sent off, putting the Spartans down a man. Twelve minutes later Santa Clara's Phillip Muscarella body slammed Uriel Ayala and was sent off leaving each side with 10 field players.
Just over four minutes later Santa Clara got the go ahead goal in their only shots on frame in the half.
"We've had four players sent off in the last four matches," said St. Clair. "That is absolutely not acceptable. It is costing us players and playing time and matches."
The Spartans had two final opportunities. In the 86th minute Enrique Montano hammer a ball from the top of the 18 and at the 88:46 mark Frankie Beauchamp shot a ball between three defenders. Both attempts were on goal, but were stopped by Bronco keeper Kendall McIntosh (2-4-0).
Mendez led the Spartans with three shots, West took two and Kyle O'Mahoney, Montano, Beauchamp and Bryan Ruiz-Unger had one shot each. Three Santa Clara players had two shots each.
The Spartans next match will be against Oregon State. San José State will kickoff against the Beavers on Lorenz Field at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22. The match will be available on live stats and will be broadcast on the PAC-12 Network.