Aug. 28, 2016
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San José State University men's soccer took advantage of its penalty kick opportunity while the University of Pacific did not, in the Spartans' 3-2 non-conference victory on Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore Andrew Mendoza took the penalty kick for the Spartans and calmly slotted the ball to the right, past the newly inserted Pacific keeper, for his first career goal as a Spartan.
With the match tied, 2-2, the Spartans were awarded a penalty kick in the 80th minute when a red card was handed out to the Pacific goalkeeper, Curtis Goldsmith, after shoving Spartan Jonathan Partida near the Tigers goal line.
The Tigers' penalty kick opportunity came in the 56th minute when a Pacific player was tripped just inside the 18.
Spartans goalkeeper, Nedin Tucakovic, smothered the penalty kick attempt by Pacific's Julio Cervantes diving to his right for one of his five saves, to keep the score at 2-2.
Just prior to Pacific's penalty kick attempt, the two teams exchanged goals in less than a minute span when Pacific's Bob Groenendyk blasted a shot from the left of the goal that ricocheted off a Spartan defender, to go up 2-1.
Thirty seconds later, Spartans' Rory Knibbs made the equalizer when he took a pass from Jonathan Colunga off a Pacific turnover in midfield, and found the top left shelf of the net. It was Knibbs' 63rd point in his career, moving him to a tie for fourth all-time on the WAC career points list.
Knibbs' game tying goal was the second time the game the Spartans immediately answered a Tigers goal. In the first half, Pacific got on board first in the 14th minute but the Spartans answered less than two minutes later when Colunga's cross attempt found the back of the net, over the outstretched arms of the Pacific keeper.
Colunga finished the game with a goal and an assist.
In a contentious game where three red cards were handed out, including two for the Spartans, they played shorthanded the last ten minutes of the game as the Spartans held on for the win in its home opener.
San José State concluded its first weekend without a loss (1-0-1) for first time since 2011. Pacific dropped to 1-1-0.
Soccer Box Score (Final)
2016 San Jose State Men's Soccer
PACIFIC vs San Jose State (Aug 28, 2016 at San Jose, Calif.)
PACIFIC (1-1-0) vs.
San Jose State (1-0-1)
Date: Aug 28, 2016 Attendance: 333
Goals by period 1 2 Total
PACIFIC 1 1 2
San Jose State 1 2 3
Shots by period 1 2 Total
PACIFIC 7 12 19
San Jose State 7 6 13
Corner kicks 1 2 Total
PACIFIC 4 2 6
San Jose State 1 0 1
Saves by period 1 2 Total
PACIFIC 2 1 3
San Jose State 1 4 5
Fouls 1 2 Total
PACIFIC 6 8 14
San Jose State 9 6 15
SOCIAL MEDIA:
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