Nov. 7, 2014
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State men's soccer team built a two-goal lead twenty minutes into the second half, but the Seattle University Redhawks stormed back to score three times in a 14-minute span to win 3-2 on Friday afternoon on Spartan Soccer Field.
"Goals and momentum change games," head coach Simon Tobin said. "I think the key was the (Seattle) goal on the free kick (that made it 2-1). We talked about it before the game. The guy has a lovely left foot. That's the play, and that was the goal, that changes the game."
After a scoreless first half, the Spartans (6-9-2, 4-3-2 WAC) got on the board in the 54th minute.
Greg Harte stole the ball 45 yards out and wove his way through the Redhawks defense. At the top of the 18 he fired a shot low inside the left post for his ninth goal of the year and a 1-0 Spartans lead.
Rory Knibbs made it 2-0 for San José State at the 71:12 mark. Keeper Felix Petermann sent the ball into Seattle territory where Harte picked it up. He drove toward the box and laid it off to Knibbs. Attacking from the right side, Knibbs flicked the ball over keeper, who rushed off his line to try to cut down the angle. It was Knibbs' ninth of the season. Harte and Petermann were credited with assists.
The run of play was all in the Spartans favor until the 75th minute.
A penalty set the Redhawks (11-5-1, 6-2-1 WAC) up with a free kick on the far right wing. Ian Hines-Ike took the kick and sent it over the defense and inside the far post at the top of the goal.
"He was out wide and it shouldn't be a great scoring opportunity," Tobin said, "but he can hit it well and the way we defended that free kick was poor. We were 2-0 and playing quite comfortably, but as in any sport, small mental mistakes can cost you. For the 10 minutes after that, we should have made sure they were not in the game and managed the game a little better."
Seattle got the equalizer four minutes later on a penalty kick from Hines-Ike.
"We knew how the free kick was going to go and where he likes to hit the PK, but we just didn't execute as well as we should have," Tobin said. "Were not the first team to let a two-goal lead slip. It happens in professional soccer all the time and coaches talk about managing the game better. We're still learning how to do that."
Just 45 seconds after the PK, Harte had a chance to put the Spartans back in front and would have, but for a great defensive play. He had a wide-open goal and fired a shot to the top corner. A Seattle defender gained the line and headed the sure goal away.
"That was the best chance either team had," Tobin said. "Johnathan (Colunga) made a run and pulled it back. Greg took the shot and a defender cleared it off the line with a header. That should have been 3-2…brilliant, brilliant defending. That's a goal if he is not aware enough to get on the line and clear it away."
The Redhawks got the game winner in the 89th minute on a header in the box by Hamza Haddadi.
"When you play Seattle, and they went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, you don't expect them to surrender when they're down. It can go either way. We played okay and showed what we are capable of. We just have to get to the level where we are a little more efficient."
For the match, San Jose State out shot the Redhawks 20-to-14. Enrique Montano led the side with five attempts. Harte and Colunga took four shots each. Dylan West and Knibbs shot twice and Ruben Want, Frankie Beauchamp and Carlos Valdovinos got off a shot each.
Keeper Felix Petermann had three saves in the loss. His record is now 5-6-2. Shane Haworth made six saves for Seattle U and improves to 11-5-1.
The Spartans wrap up the regular season on Sunday against Utah Valley in a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. It will be the final home appearance for seniors Andrew Kelly, Frankie Beauchamp, Andy Moya, Jamison Loveless and Enrique Montano. A ceremony honoring the five is schedule to begin at approximately 12:40 p.m.
Seattle U (11-5-1, 6-2-1 WAC) vs. San Jose State (6-9-2, 4-3-2 WAC)
Date: Nov 07, 2014 Attendance: 186
Weather:
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
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Seattle U........... 0 3 - 3
San Jose State...... 0 2 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 53:20 SJSU Harte, Greg (9) (unassisted) - stole ball 45 yds out dribbled to top of 18 scored low left
2. 71:12 SJSU Knibbs, Rory (9) (Harte, Greg;Petermann, Felix) - long kick, Harte layed off to Knibbs flicked over oncoming keeper
3. 74:04 SUMEN(1) Ian Hines-Ike (3) (unassisted) - off a free kick on a hard angle inside far post
4. 78:05 SUMEN(1) Ian Hines-Ike (4) Penalty kick
5. 88:36 SUMEN(1) Hamza Haddadi (7) (Sam Langston) - played in from left wing headed in
Shots: Seattle U 14, San Jose State 20
Saves: Seattle U 6 (Shane Haworth 6), San Jose State 3 (Petermann,
Felix 3)