MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team settled for a 1-1 draw against Jessup on Saturday night at Bobcat Field.
Prior to the match, the Bobcats (1-1-1) retired the late Isaias Ruiz's jersey.
Christian Khanishian scored the Bobcats goal in the 16th minute from 15 yards out off an assist from Omar Garcia to go ahead 1-0. Garcia served the ball into the box from about 40 yards away and the ball took one long hop to Khanishian who then delivered a left-footed strike into the corner of the net. Garcia's ball pulled the Warriors keeper out of the goal area. Salvador Plancarte was also credited with an assist.
Khanishian's goal was his first of the season and third of his career.
The Bobcats had a couple opportunities to double their lead later in the half. In the 34th minute, Jose Ontiveros got behind the defense but was tripped by the Warriors keeper just outside the box. Jessup's keeper was shown a yellow card, but then made a diving save on a Jake Perkins shot directly off the free kick.
UC Merced had an Ontiveros goal waved off a minute later on an offsides call on a corner kick. Ontiveros was the third different Bobcat to take a shot on the corner. The first two were saved, before the ball came to Ontiveros who put the ball into the back of the net before it was ruled no goal.
Jessup found the equalizer shortly after, in the 38th minute, as the Warriors Luis Cruz headed in a corner kick back post.
The Bobcats put pressure on Jessup early in the second half with shots on goal from Garcia and Carlos Miranda. Miranda took another shot on goal in the 65th minute. Jose Vazquez forced the keeper into a save just before Miranda.
In the 73rd minute, Thomas Knierieme took a shot off a free kick from 25 yards out but it was saved.
UC Merced had two set pieces in the final five minutes but neither resulted in a shot, resulting in the 1-1 final score.
The Bobcats defense was sharp protecting UC Merced goalkeeper Abel Calvillo from shots in the second half. Calvillo made two saves in his first action in a UC Merced uniform.
UC Merced outshot Jessup 14-7 overall, 7-3 on goal. The Bobcats 14 shots marked a season-high. Miranda held match-high with four shots, two on frame.
Defenders Plancarte and Jaycob Walker played all 90 minutes.
Miranda earned his first career start. Fernando Atilano started his first game for the Bobcats. Eduardo Zamudio made his UC Merced debut, while Joey Alvarez earned a start in his season debut.
The referees called 23 fouls and Jessup was guilty of 13 of them. Both teams were shown two yellows.
Up next, the Bobcats play at Concordia University Irvine on Thursday, September 25. First touch from Golden Eagles Soccer Field in Irvine, Calif., is scheduled for 6:30pm.
