MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team secured a 2-1 win over two-time defending CCAA Regular Season Champion Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday night in the CCAA opener on Bobcat Field.
With the win, the Bobcats (2-0-3) snapped the Toros' 22-match CCAA unbeaten streak. As for the Bobcats, they are now unbeaten through five matches for the second time in the last three years and for the fourth time in program history.
Felipe Lopez and Omar Garcia provided the Bobcats offense, while Angel Joaquin registered the win in goal.
Lopez scored a goal for the second straight game, blasting a rebound off a Christian Khanishian shot into the back of the net in the 33rd minute. Khanishian, who fired a shot that was kick saved by the Toros keeper, recorded his first assist of the season. Lopez one-timed the loose ball in stride from the top of the goal area.
Multiple Bobcats helped create the scoring opportunity, including Joey Alvarez and Garcia who connected long balls up over the top of the defense down to Ezekiel Cruz inside the 18-yard box. Cruz then set up Khanishian.
However, the Bobcats lead was erased two minutes later after a foul in the box. There was no foul call at first, but Cal State Dominguez Hills put forth a video challenge and after video review the Toros were awarded a penalty kick. CSUDH's Juan Calderon buried his penalty shot top shelf.
The match remained tied 1-1 at halftime.
In the 50th minute, Garcia broke the tie with a goal directly off a set piece near the corner flag. Garcia sent a beauty into the net, lasering and bending a shot that went through the goalkeepers hands and in for a goal. Garcia's goal was his first of the season and the ninth of his career.
Up 2-1, UC Merced kept the scoreline there despite five Toro shots and three corner kicks the rest of the way. Joaquin made three saves, and center back Juan Lara stopped a shot from going beyond the goal line. CSUDH was relentless going for the equalizer, but the Bobcats didn't concede. CSUDH finished the night leading the shot count 10-8, but shots on goal were both even at six. The Toros won the corner kick battle 9-4.
Khanishian and Lopez both managed a shot on goal down the stretch for UC Merced.
Joaquin finished with five saves on the night. The Fresno, Calif., native also tied Bernardo Garcia for fifth in program history with his 15th career win. Joaquin moved into a tie for third with Brycen Miller and David Hernandez with 28 career starts.
Lara played the full 90 minutes for the fifth straight game. Alvarez went the distance for the second time in the last three matches.
Up next, UC Merced will host Fresno Pacific on Sunday, September 20. First touch from Bobcat Field is scheduled for 2:00pm.
