MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team fell 2-1 to UC Santa Cruz on Wednesday night in a nonconference match.
Jose Vazquez scored the Bobcats (1-6-3) lone goal in the 70th minute, his first career goal.
UC Santa Cruz opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a goal from Soren Groessl. Groessl stole a pass in the attacking third and went on to score unassisted from the top of the box.
The Banana Slugs found their second goal in the 73rd minute following a series of passes that led to a one-timer from ten yards out. Drew Krawiec was credited with the game-winning goal.
Vazquez's goal to cut the Bobcats deficit in half was assisted by Jimmy Perkins and Christian Khanishian in the 70th minute. Perkins and Khanishain played give-and-go to create a free run down the left sideline, and then Khanishian delivered a cross to Vazquez at the top of the box. Vazquez settled before delivering a ground ball strike into the back of the net.
Perkins' assist was his team-leading third of the season. Khanishian is up to two assists and a team-high eight points in 2025.
Shortly after the Bobcats score, goalkeeper Angel Joaquin made a pair of impressive diving saves to keep the game at 2-1. His second diving save came off the rebound. UC Santa Cruz took a third shot in the sequence but Christian Gallo was there to head it away at the goal line.
Davian Lizarraga nearly hit an equalizer in the 84th minute. He pulled the Banana Slugs keeper off his line and although the keeper made the first play, the ball was still loose but Lizarraga just missed his potential game-tying shot to the right.
UC Merced had two corner kicks and a Jake Perkins shot on frame in the closing minutes but weren't able to put a shot into the back of the net.
UC Merced was outshot 14-11 on the night but won the corner kick battle 10-2.
Jose Ontiveros and Joey Alvarez had the Bobcats best scoring chances in the first half.
Ontiveros forced the keeper to make a diving save in the 24th minute which resulted in the corner that Alvarez nearly scored on.
Alvarez hit the crossbar on his header directly off the corner.
Edwin Casillas also took a shot in the match and was the Bobcats only field player to play all 90 minutes.
Lizarraga earned his first career start. Braxton Fleming earned his first start of the season, while Antonio Ochoa made his season debut.
Joaquin was credited with five saves for UC Merced.
Up next, UC Merced will host 25th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday, October 19. Kickoff from Bobcat Field is set for 11:30am.
