MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team earned its first ever CCAA point with a 2-2 draw against Cal State East Bay on Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Field.
Freshman Jose Ontiveros led the Bobcats (1-3-3) with a brace, including scoring his first career goal to put UC Merced ahead 1-0 in the 57th minute. After Cal State East Bay took a 2-1 lead, Ontiveros netted the game-tying goal in the 83rd minute. Both goals were assisted by Jimmy Perkins. His two assists marked a career-high.
Ontiveros is just the second player in the CCAA to record a brace in conference play this year.
His first goal was a laser from 20 yards away that rocketed past the diving keeper near post. Perkins beat a defender down the left sideline before sending in the cross to Ontiveros. The ball took two hops and Ontiveros was on the receiving end and buried his one-timer.
Cal State East Bay countered three minutes later with a header inside the goal area directly off a free kick.
East Bay took the lead in the 65th minute by converting a penalty kick.
Shots were limited for the next 15 minutes, but Carlos Miranda was able to get a shot off.
Ontiveros came up clutch in the in the 83rd minute with an equalizer, another one-timer. Perkins played a ball over the top to Ontiveros who then squeezed between two defenders and in-stride flicked the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards out.
Ontiveros nearly assisted and then scored a potential UC Merced game-winning goal 90 seconds later. He set up Christian Khanishian at the top of the box and Khanishian's shot forced the keeper to make a diving save. Ontiveros was there for the rebound but a Pioneer deflected his next shot over the top. It resulted in a corner kick and Omar Garcia's header directly off the Thomas Knierieme corner missed high.
Cal State East Bay then had one more chance at a game-winning goal of their own. The Pioneers forced a turnover in their attacking third and connected two passes to get inside the 18-yard box. The ball got to an unmarked Pioneer and he was one-on-one with UC Merced's goalkeeper Angel Joaquin. Joaquin left his line and made a sliding play altering the shot from East Bay. Jaycob Walker then cleared it.
There was enough time for East Bay to serve two more balls into the box but Edwin Casillas made the final defensive stand to share the points.
Cal State East Bay outshot UC Merced 15-12 overall on the day. Each team put six shots on frame.
Ontiveros shared match-high with three shots. Perkins put two shots on target in the first half. Salvador Plancarte also forced the Pioneers keeper into a first half save.
Joaquin recorded four saves.
Casillas and Christian Gallo played the full 90 minutes.
Davian Lizarraga made his collegiate debut. He started the second half.
The match had 22 fouls, 13 whistled against East Bay. Each team was shown two yellow cards.
Up next, UC Merced will play Cal State Dominguez Hills at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. First touch is scheduled for 4:30pm.
