MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team suffered a 3-0 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday night at Bobcat Field. The Bobcats fell to 4-4-3 overall and 3-4 in CCAA play with the loss.
The match was tied 0-0 at halftime before CSUMB tallied its game-winning goal in the 57th minute and tacked on two more goals in the final ten minutes.
CSUMB outshot the Bobcats 13-12, 8-5 on goal. The Bobcats won the corner kick battle 7-3.
UC Merced put together multiple first half opportunities but were unable to break through. Eduardo Zamudio had a shot that was kick saved by the keeper in the 11th minute and Omar Garcia forced the keeper into a diving save near post in the 15th minute. Ezekiel Cruz and Jose Vazquez also got a quality shot off in the first half.
CSUMB applied early pressure in the second half and had a shot hit the post four minutes in.
Five minutes later, CSUMB earned a corner kick and turned its opportunity into the eventual game-winning goal with a Samir Warner header from the top of the goal area.
Trailing 1-0, Jaycob Walker forced the keeper into a big save in the 61st minute and Jose Ontiveros then had a shot saved on the ensuing opportunity.
UC Merced worked at an equalizer again in the 72nd minute following a nice run from Carlos Miranda. However, Erlin Gomez's shot from the top of the box was blocked and then the keeper cleaned up the loose ball right in front of Felipe Lopez.
Gomez had a couple final chances for UC Merced and led the Bobcats with three shots overall. The Bobcats also earned a couple corner kicks down the stretch.
CSUMB's Sylas Sells doubled the Otters lead in the 83rd minute from the top of the box and then Philip Wolny made it 3-0 in the 86th minute on a counter attack.
Angel Joaquin was in goal for the Bobcats and finished with five saves.
