BAKER CITY, Kan. – The 20th-ranked and 15th-seeded University of California, Merced men's soccer team concluded its season with a 4-0 loss to Baker University in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Second Round on Saturday night at Hartley Field.
The Bobcats finish 12-1-3 in their spectacular season. The 2024 campaign saw the Bobcats go unbeaten in a program-record 15 games leading into the national tournament, including winning the Cal Pac Tournament championship and a share of the conference regular season title. UC Merced was one of the last three unbeaten teams in the NAIA heading into the national tournament.
Baker struck first in the 21st minute and then doubled its lead two minutes into the second half. The Wildcats scored two more goals in the next ten minutes to cap off the scoring and build the 4-0 advantage. Akira Itadani blasted home the game-winning goal, while Evans Osei Amankwah led the offense the rest of the way scoring twice and assisting another.
UC Merced managed to outshoot Baker 12-9 and earned four corner kicks in an attempt to get on the scoreboard. Kevin Capetillo shared match-high with three shots. Capetillo, Jesus Enriquez, Omar Garcia, and Luis Villegas put a shot on goal.
Garcia was responsible for the first shot of the game 90 seconds into the match from the corner of the box, but it was saved near the post.
In the 13th minute, Enriquez received a cross but his header attempt missed high. The Bobcats were held to just the two first half shots.
Baker only got off three shots in the first half with their first of the night finding the back of the net in the 21st minute. A cross inside the box was followed by a backheel pass to create a better opportunity, which Itadani executed with a strike from one corner of the box into the far corner of the net.
Baker immediately regained possession upon restart of play and fired towards the net again, forcing Angel Joaquin to make a leaping save. Three Baker corner kicks followed before intermission but the Bobcats defense was up for the test and kept the game 1-0 at the break.
Out of the break, the home team outshot UC Merced 6-1 in the first ten and a half minutes on their way to their 4-0 lead.
The Bobcats kept fighting to get at least one goal back, outshooting Baker 9-0 the rest of the way. Head coach Albert Martins' squad also took four corner kicks in the final 34 minutes, but couldn't put a shot into the back of the net.
Seniors Andres Alonso, Xavier Barajas, Diego Fresquez, and Luis Villegas logged the full 90 minutes. Edwin Casillas also played the full time. Joaquin was credited with two saves between the posts.
Capetillo ends his career playing in 80 games, tied for the third most in program history. He finishes second in Cal Pac history with 42 career assists, first in program history. Barajas finished tenth with 72 games played and sixth with 68 career starts.
Stay up to date with UC Merced men's soccer in the offseason by following the team on social media @ucmercedmsoc.
