MERCED, Calif. - The top-seeded University of California, Merced men's soccer team was eliminated from the California Pacific Conference Championship Tournament with a 2-1 loss to Marymount California University in the semifinals Thursday afternoon on Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (15-3-1, 10-1) season will continue in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on either November 22 or 23. UC Merced's opponent and location will be determined at 10:00am on Monday.
Billy Thompson of Marymount scored the game's first goal with a bicycle kick in the 65th minute. The tally was just the Mariners first shot on goal in the match and they were outshot 12-9 overall.
The Bobcats were quick to create equalizer opportunities as Marcos Ceballos and Ricky Rosas each recorded a shot on goal within the next five minutes. However, Marymount's Ramon Garcia saved both of them for two of his seven saves on the day.
In the 81st minute, Rosas shook off a defender and attempted to cross it to the charging Flores. Before it could make it to Flores, the opponents Kareem Salem misplayed it and the ball ended up in the back of the net to tie the game at one.
The equalizer was ruled as an own goal.
After Marymount restarted play in the center circle, freshman Christian Gaona was quick to gain possession back and soon after Andres Lua had the ball inside the box but was tripped up and lost possession.
The Mariners were quick to get down to the other side of the field and managed to get a corner kick in the 82nd minute.
Although a goal didn't come directly off the corner, the game-winning goal came immediately after and Marymount led 2-1 with seven minutes left. From 30 yards out, Luis Coronado sent a ball to Josh Bynoe and from the penalty stripe, Bynoe leaped in the air and headed a shot into the left corner of the net.
The Bobcats created a scoring opportunity in the 83rd minute. Miguel Coronado attempted to set up Flores but as the ball was about to reach Flores, he got tangled up and fell to the ground with a Mariner defender. The officials called a foul and Flores lined up for a penalty kick. However, the officials conversed and called the foul on Flores instead of Sandoval Garcia eliminating a UC Merced penalty kick.
The game lacked scoring opportunities the rest of the way and the Bobcats were eliminated in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Nine of the Bobcats 12 shots came in the first half, while six of the Mariners nine also came in the first 45 minutes. Agustin Guerrero had two shots on goal in the first half as he was the first to a corner kick taken from Coronado and Manuel Romero. Overall the Bobcats took four corner kicks.
Rosas and Flores shared match-high with three shots. Lua added two shots, one on goal.
The teams combined for 35 fouls Thursday afternoon with UC Merced being whistled for 20.
The officials also handed out five yellow cards, four to Marymount.
Tune in here at 10:00am PST on Monday, November 18 to see the Bobcats NAIA National Championship Opening Round fate. A win in the opening round would advance the Bobcats to the final site in Irvine, Calif., December 2 for the first time in program history. The NAIA National Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 at 6:00pm at OC Great Park Soccer Stadium.
