Sept. 21, 2014
Moraga, Calif. - The San Jose State men's soccer team battled a man down for 25 minutes and took Saint Mary's College to a 1-1 tie in regulation, but a goal in the 99th minute for the Gaels was the difference in a 2-1 result on Sunday afternoon.
"I told the team that this was the most professional first half performance we've had this year," Spartans head coach Simon Tobin said. "We came on the road and dominated the game against a really good team. The team played exceptionally well today."
The Spartans (2-5-0) outshot the Gaels 5-to-1 in the first 45 minutes and controlled the pace of play. The first dangerous chance came in the 19th minute and belonged to the Spartans. Frankie Beauchamp (Sr., MF, San Francisco, Calif.) powered a shots from the right side of the box. Saint Mary's keeper Andre Rawls parried the ball just over the crossbar for the save.
Then in the 44th minute, off a free kick from Sam Croucher (So., MF, Derbyshire, England), Eric Mendez (So., F, Santa Cruz, Calif.) flashed across the goal and heeled the ball just wide and into the side of the net. The sides went to the half 0-0.
"In the second half it got a bit sloppy," said Tobin, "and then we get that red card and we're forced to play with 10 men the rest of the way.
The red card was issued to Andrew Kelly (Sr., D, Darlington, England) in the 73rd minute after a hard tackle. "I thought it deserved a yellow, but I don't think it merited a red card," said Tobin. "Not only do we get the red card, but they score on the free kick. So now we're down 1-0 and down a man."
The Gaels (5-2-0) were awarded a free kick from 22 yards out, and Rafael Sanchez shot to the upper right corner of the goal. The ball caromed off the bottom of the crossbar and over the line for a 1-0 lead.
Down a man, the Spartans continued to press the attack. Off a rebound in the box, Uriel Ayala (So., MF, Fort Bragg, Calif.) picked up the equalizer, scoring to the lower right corner of the goal. It was his first collegiate tally. Reuben Want (So., F, Bodoe, Norway) was given an assist on the score.
The Gaels took the final four shots of the second half and the only three of overtime.
The winner was from the foot of Michael Semenza who broke down the middle of the field and beat Spartans keeper Felix Petermann low the to the right. Petermann turned away five of the seven shots that reached his line in the loss.
The Spartans, edged 13-to-11 in shots, were led by Beauchamp's four. Ayala and Rory Knibbs (So., F, London, England) had two shots apiece. Mendez, Want and Greg Harte (So, F, Cork, Ireland) attempted one shot each.
"I was happy that we the pulled back the goal from Saint Mary's," Tobin said. "In another situation we might have sat back and taken a 1-1 tie on the road, but we still went for it. They caught us on the break for the winner. It's really hard to play with 10 men and hold off a team like that for that long. Little things work against you, that red card was one. It's just disappointing to play them straight up with 10 men and not get the result.
"Little things work against you, that red card was one. It's just disappointing to play them straight up with 10 men and not get the result."
San Jose State (2-5-0) vs. Saint Mary's (CA) (5-2-0)
Date: 9/21/2014 Attendance: 225
Weather:
Goals by period 1 2 OT Tot
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San Jose State...... 0 1 0 - 1
Saint Mary's (CA)... 0 1 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 72:26 SMC Sanchez, Rafael (1) (unassisted) - Free kick from 22 yards out. Upper right, off bottom of crossbar
2. 76:05 SJSU Ayala, Uriel (1) (Want, Ruben) - Rebound in front of goal, into lower right corner
3. 98:02 SMC Semenza, Michael (3) (unassisted) - 1v1 with keeper, slotted lower middle of the goal for game-winner
Shots: San Jose State 11, Saint Mary's (CA) 13
Saves: San Jose State 8 (Petermann, Felix 7; TEAM 1), Saint Mary's
(CA) 6 (Rawls, Andre 5; TEAM 1)