SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw (2OT) with the Master's University in the latter half of a back-to-back Saturday afternoon in the Heritage Club Classic.
Looking to improve to 3-1 all-time against the Mustang's, UC Merced (0-1-1) took the first touch and immediately got into the attack. Less than 30 seconds in, Marcos Ceballos was the victim of a foul that set up a free kick just outside the 18-yard box.
Juan Flores elected to take the free kick, slicing a shot with his left foot that snuck past the keeper for the game's first goal 62 seconds into the match. The go-ahead goal was the quickest goal of Flores' career by one second. On October 6, 2018, Flores netted the Bobcats first goal against Embry-Riddle (AZ) in 63 seconds.
The juniors goal Saturday afternoon marked his second goal of the season. Flores, who is now tied for fifth all-time on the program's career goals list with 19, has recorded goals in back-to-back games ten times throughout his career.
Flores' goal was followed by six straight fouls before another shot was recorded for either team. In the 16th and 18th minute, UC Merced notched a corner kick but were unable to double the lead. Flores and Andres Lua followed the corners up with shots.
Lua's shot in the 23rd minute marked the Bobcats final shot of the first half. Lua would finish with six shots by the end the match.
Defensively, the Bobcats held The Master's without a shot until the 29th minute which was blocked. Fresno, Calif., native Brycen Miller earned his first collegiate start between the posts and was tested for the first time in the 35th minute on a shot from Luis Garcia Sosa. Miller, who stopped the shot, finished with six saves on the afternoon.
Garcia Sosa picked things up again in the second half with shots in the 48th and 50th minute.
UC Merced was challenged with defending two corner kicks in the 70th minute and deemed successful.
However, The Master's Carlos Moreno netted the equalizer shortly after. In the 74th minute, Moreno stole possession away from the Bobcats and blasted a shot that found the right corner of the net.
The game remained tied at one for the next 16 minutes of regulation. Miller was tasked with stopping three shots during that time frame, including one in the 89th minute.
In the final seconds of the second half, Andres Lua got off a shot attempt that went wide right.
Both overtime periods lacked shots on target and were only played with 20 players due to red cards. Ceballos and Miguel Coronado got off a shot in the first overtime period, while Lua notched two of his own in the second but neither were on goal. In the 20 minutes of overtime, The Master's lone shot was from Garcia Sosa and it ended up being Miller's sixth and final save of his debut.
Overall, the Bobcats were outshot 13-11, 7-2 on goal. Livingston product Francisco Lopez accounted for the Bobcats second shot on goal.
The 1-1 draw was the Bobcats seventh draw since the start of the 2017 season.
Juan Flores received a red card in the 48th minute, The Mustang's Justin Ikeora received the same in the 80th minute.
Looking ahead, the Bobcats get set for their home opener against Oregon Tech on Thursday, August 29. First touch is scheduled for 7:00pm on Bobcat Field.
