TORRANCE, Calif. - Behind Sebastian Perez's golden goal in the 98th minute, the University of California, Merced men's soccer team broke its single-season wins record by defeating Marymount California University 3-2 Saturday night at Murdock Stadium.
The Bobcats (14-2-1, 9-1) also clinched a first round bye in the upcoming California Pacific Conference Championship Tournament set to begin November 13 at Bobcat Field.
UC Merced has now won two-straight regular season road matches against the storied Marymount Mariners, a team who has won 36 of their last 40 Cal Pac home games dating back to 2013.
Perez's golden goal marked the Bobcats third overtime win this season, second in conference play. The game-winning sequence started as Andres Lua gained possession in the center circle and sent a pass to the striding sophomore. After three dribbles, Perez drew the keeper from net and banked a shot off the far post.
Lua was also involved in the Bobcats first goal of the game, an equalizer in the 53rd minute that he managed to head into the net to tie the game at one. Juan Flores, who sent a free kick into the box from 30 yards out, was credited with the assist.
Lua's goal was his eighth of the season, fifth in his last four games. Flores' assist was his fourth of the year, 21st of his career and he is now fourth in program history with that mark.
In the 71st minute, Flores had another free kick. This time it was from 20 yards out near the scorers table touchline and it resulted in a goal for the junior to put the Bobcats up 2-1. Flores' goal was his seventh of the year, 24th of his career which is good for third on the program's all-time charts.
Marymount's Joshua Bynoe scored an equalizer in the 88th minute that sent the game into overtime. It was roughly eight minutes later when Perez put an end to the match with the golden goal.
Perez's score gave the Mariners their second overtime loss during conference play. The Bobcats are also one of just three teams in the last two years to score three times against Marymount.
Despite the win, the Bobcats were outshot 16-11 but did manage to put nine of the eleven shots on goal. The Bobcats also took three corner kicks compared to the Mariners one.
Marymount's Bynoe held match-high with six shots, two on goal.
Lua, Perez and Ivan Ceballos also had two shots on goal.
The two teams combined for 41 fouls, UC Merced was whistled for 21 of them. The officials also showed five yellow cards and three red cards. The Bobcats Ricky Rosas received a red and will miss the regular season finale at Cal Maritime.
The finale is scheduled for Saturday, November 9 at Bodnar Field in Vallejo, Calif. First touch against the Keelhaulers is scheduled for 3:30pm. A Bobcat win would clinch at least a share of the Cal Pac Regular-Season Title.
