ARCATA, Calif. – Jaycob Walker provided the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to give the University of California, Merced men's soccer team a 2-1 win over Cal Poly Humboldt on Thursday afternoon at College Creek Field.
With the win, the Bobcats improve to 5-5-3 overall and 4-5 in CCAA play. The Bobcats last two wins have seen the game-winning goal come in the final ten minutes.
Walker knocked in the winner near post, finishing off a far post cross from Christian Khanishian. Walker leaped in the air to get to the delivery and tapped the cross into the back of the net on one touch. Walker's goal was his first since 2024. Khanishian would finish the game with two assists, his second multi-assist outing of the campaign. The junior is up to six assists this season.
Danny Gaona scored the game's first goal in the 30th minute assisted by Erlin Gomez and Khanishian.
Gaona's goal was his second in as many games. Built from the back up, Gomez delivered a nice ball from the center line to Khanishian down the left side. Khanishian then sent a cross back to the right side to the streaking Gomez, who played it on one-touch to Gaona at the top of the goal area for the score. Gaona's goal was his third of the season, while Gomez's assist was his second.
UC Merced finished the game outshooting Humboldt 14-12, 4-3 on target. Omar Garcia and Gomez shared team-high with three shots.
Joaquin made three saves in goal for the Bobcats with his first stop coming in the 12th minute, a kick save on a corner kick. Joaquin and the Bobcats defense stood strong there despite three Humboldt corner kicks in a 90-second stretch. A little later, Humboldt had a free kick right outside the box but the Bobcats wall knocked down the shot attempt.
In the 22nd minute with the Lumberjacks goalkeeper way off his line, Garcia went for an opportunity from the center circle to put the Bobcats on the board but the keeper managed to track back and make a save. UC Merced's first goal followed seven minutes later.
Joaquin was forced into an impressive save in the 33rd minute and was up for the challenge to keep the first half shutout alive.
Carlos Miranda sent in some dangerous crosses towards the end of the first half. In the 41st minute, Felipe Lopez put ahead a good through ball to Jose Vazquez but Vazquez's shot was saved out for a corner kick. The Bobcats finished with eight corner kicks on the day.
Cal Poly Humboldt found the equalizer in the 56th minute with a strike from 30 yards out in the run of play by Azis Camerrer.
Joaquin saved the next shot that came his way a few minutes later, a shot from point blank range, to keep the game tied.
Jose Ontiveros came on in the 72nd minute and immediately provided scoring opportunities for the Bobcats, sending passes during two runs that each pulled the 'Jacks goalkeeper off his line. Gomez nearly put the Bobcats back in front but missed high, and then Garcia went for a winner but his attempt was saved on the goal line with a last ditch effort by a defender.
Walker turned in the winner in the 83rd minute, just a few minutes after checking in.
Nacio Gutierrez and Preston Nguyen provided one final clearance on a Humboldt corner kick in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
Gutierrez and Juan Lara played the full 90 minutes.
Joaquin's win in goal moved him into a tie with Brycen Miller for fourth in program history with 18 career wins.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play at Chico State on Saturday, October 17 with the first touch from University Soccer Stadium scheduled for 3:00pm.
