SEASIDE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team earned a hard-fought 3-3 road draw against 2023 NCAA Tournament qualifier Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday evening at Cardinale Stadium.
With the tie, the Bobcats (3-0-2) are unbeaten through the first five matches of the season for the first time since 2020.
There were six different goal scorers, three for each team, on Sunday but it was Daniel Borges who struck first in the 14th minute to start the offensive fireworks. CSUMB then scored three unanswered goals and the Bobcats trailed 3-1 in the 54th minute. Jesus Ponce brought the Bobcats within a goal and then Roberto Ceja tallied the equalizer in the 72nd minute.
Borges' goal came unassisted to give the Bobcats the 1-0 lead. It was his second goal in as many games, marking the third occasion in Borges' UC Merced career scoring in back-to-back outings.
Prior to Borges' goal, CSUMB registered four shots and two corner kicks but couldn't convert. However, the Otters then became more efficient with their attempts and put home back-to-back goals in a 90-second stretch with a one-timer and then a header goal to garner a 2-1 advantage. The first goal was scored in the 18th minute.
UC Merced earned some corner kicks before halftime but the match remained 2-1 heading into intermission.
After eight minutes without a shot to start the second half, both sides traded goals in the next four minutes of play. CSUMB struck first with another header in the 54th minute and then Ponce got that goal back for the Bobcats scoring one of his own off an assist from Joey Alvarez. The tally was the first each for Ponce and Alvarez this season.
Ponce continued to be dangerous but his next shot 90 seconds later was saved by the Otters keeper.
UC Merced put more pressure on the Otters in the 72nd minute when Xavier Barajas forced the keeper into making another save.
Immediately after, Ceja found the back of the net for the game-tying goal. Borges was credited with an assist on the equalizer which marked his first three-point outing of the young campaign.
Ceja's goal moved him ahead of Ricky Rosas for ninth all-time in program history with 54 career points.
Neither team put a shot on frame over the final 19 minutes.
Overall, CSUMB outshot UC Merced 14-10 but the Bobcats put seven on target compared to the Otters three.
UC Merced was tasked with defending seven corner kicks and did so successfully, allowing just one shot as a result of the corner. That shot was high. Also of note, the Bobcats had to defend five of the seven corner kicks in the final ten minutes of the match to keep the contest tied.
Sunday was the first ever match between the two sides.
Oliver Zamora returned from injury and earned the start for UC Merced in his 2024 debut. Edwin Casillas, Brian Lua, and Diego Fresquez played all 90 minutes with goalkeeper Angel Joaquin.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play Pacific Union College in the California Pacific Conference opener on Thursday, September 26 at 1:00pm in Angwin, Calif.
