Sept. 16, 2015
San Jose, Calif. - Junior striker Rory Knibbs scored the game winner in the 104th minute against the UC Davis Aggies to give the San José State men's soccer team a 2-1 victory on Wednesday evening on Spartan Soccer Field.
From 10 yards inside the midfield stripe, Eric Mendez placed the ball right on the foot of Knibbs. Knibbs, who was breaking down the right sideline, drove toward the near post and fired a shot low beating Aggies keeper Armando Quezada, at the 103:40 mark, for his second game winning goal of the year.
The win snapped the Spartans two game slide and with Kyler McLaughlin's first period tally, the team ended a 231:04 scoreless streak.
San José State (2-3-0) had the better run of the game in the first half and took advantage of an early opportunity. Jonathan Colunga fed Alex Alcaraz off a cornerkick, who gave it right back to Colunga. He then played the ball directly in front of the Aggie goal. McLaughlin, a junior defender, was crashing the box and headed the ball down and past UC Davis' starting keeper Kris Schultz. It was McLaughlin's second career goal and staked the Spartans to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
Ten minutes later, at the 23:18 mark, Knibbs had his first chance. Driving down the left side, he hammered a shot, which Schultz deflected into the crossbar and over the goal.
The Spartans next quality chance came in the 39th minute. Knibbs, on a breakaway, crushed a shot from the top of the 18. Schultz dove to his left to save the shot. At 41:14, Carlos Valdovinos stole the ball in Aggies territory, passed it on to Knibbs who fired a shot over the crossbar.
For the half, SJSU outshot the Aggies 7-to-4 and had a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard, but left several good opportunities to increase its advantage on the field.
The second half of the game was a near opposite of the first. UC Davis (1-5-0) changed keepers, Quezada for Schultz, outshot the Spartans 9-to-3 and physically took the game to San José State.
The majority of the half was played in front of Spartans' keeper Emmanuel Espinoza who had four of his nine saves in the game in the second half. Espinoza turned everything that came to his line way until the 85:22 mark. Aggie Matt Weisenfarth had a throw in from the right side line. His toss went right to Lucas Mohageg, who was set up in front of Espinoza's line. Mohageg headed in the equalizer and sent the game to overtime tied 1-1.
In the first overtime period, each team got off two shots. Both of the Aggies were on frame, neither of SJSU's were and neither team scored.
In the second extra period Knibbs had two chances, with the second finding the net and earning the Spartans their first overtime win in their first overtime game of the year.
Knibbs led all players with six shots, putting three on frame. Alcaraz and Mendez attempted two each and Eddie Saydee, McLaughlin, Colunga and Valdovinos produced one shot apiece.
Colunga and Mendez each picked up his first assists of the year and Espinoza's nine saves improved his save percentage to .742 and his goals against average was lowered to 1.55.
UC Davis, which outshot the Spartans 15-to-14, was led by Mohageg's four attempts. Both Schultz and Quezada made two saves and allowed one goal.
The Spartans next game will be at the University of San Diego on Sunday, September 20. The start time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. against the Toreros.
UC Davis (1-5-0) vs. San Jose State (2-3-0)
Date: Sep 16, 2015 Attendance: 89
Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
UC Davis............ 0 1 0 0 - 1
San Jose State...... 1 0 0 1 - 2
SCORING SUMMARY:
- 13:29 SJSU McLaughlin, Kyler (1) (Colunga, Jonathan) - Header off of center from the right side.
- 85:22 UCD Mohageg, Lucas (2) (Wiesenfarth, Matt) - Header off a throw in
- 103:20 SJSU Knibbs, Rory (4) (Mendez, Eric) - Blast from near right side beat keeper low to near post.
Shots: UC Davis 15, San Jose State 14
Saves: UC Davis 4 (Quezada, Armando 2; Schultz, Kris 2), San Jose
State 9 (Espinoza, Emmanuel 9)