Stanford (2-0)
SMU Who? Cardinal Avenge Loss in Last Season’s Opener
On Sunday night, the Cardinal scored three goals in the first half and coasted to a 3-1 win over visiting SMU.
Carlo Agostinelli opened the scoring in the 16th minute, stealing the ball from SMU defender Owen Zarnick near midfield, dribbling to the penalty arc, and firing a left-footed shot past SMU goalkeeper Cole Johnson.
Agostinelli also set up the Cardinal’s second goal, dribbling near the endline and firing a cross toward the far post that Bank headed into the net.
The Cardinal added a third in the 41st minute, as Liam Doyle’s direct free kick from just outside the penalty arc went over the wall and bounced off of the underside of the crossbar, just inside the far post.
SMU’s Knut Ahlander scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 75th minute, after a foul by Keegan Tingey in the box.
9th Minute Goal is Enough in Cardinal’s Opener
Sophomore Jackson Kiil scored the only goal in Stanford’s 1-0 home win over Villanova on Thursday evening. The 9th minute goal was set up by Fletcher Bank’s through ball that found Cam Cilley making his run along the left side. Villanova goalkeeper Kent Dickey deflected the shot away, but straight into the path of Kiil, who slammed the ball home.
The Wildcats’ best chance came on a counterattack in the 52nd minute, when Stanford’s Keegan Hughes made a sliding tackle to deflect Akinjide Awujo’s shot so that it landed harmlessly on the roof of the net.
Cal (0-1-1)
A Late Equalizer Denies the Bears Their First Win
On Sunday, the Golden Bears’ home opener ended in a 1-1 draw with Villanova. The Bears’ only goal came on a penalty kick that was converted by Fahmi Ibrahim 16 seconds before the halftime whistle, after a Villanova player was whistled for a hand ball inside the box.
The Bears appeared to be on their way to victory, but Villanova equalized when Balthi Saunders’ corner kick was headed home by Akinjide Awujo in the 87th minute, directly in front of Golden Bears goalkeeper Collin Travasos.
Saunders also helped prevent a goal earlier in the match, heading away a shot in the 47th minute that might otherwise have put the game out of reach. Villanova Goalkeeper Kent Dickey made a key save in the 78th minute to keep the visitors within striking distance.
A Rough Night in Fullerton
Shoei Honda’s 73rd minute goal was one of the few bright spots in Cal’s 3-1 loss at Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night. Fullerton goalkeeper Tetsuya Kadono came out to challenge Cal’s Rohan McEligot for the ball. McEligot tapped it free, and Honda pounced on the ball and sent it into the back of the net.
But the rest of the evening belonged to the home side. They got on the board first in the 12th minute, when a mis-hit pass by a Cal defender went straight to Sander Forø for the easy finish.
Cal did gain a man advantage in the 54th minute, when Giovanni Calderon was red carded for taking down USF transfer Nonso Adimabua. But the Titans kept adding on, including Julian Madrigal’s 60th minute banger from the edge of the penalty area and Sebastian Cruz’s 67th minute goal, set up by Reziq Banihani.
#22 Santa Clara (0-1-1)
Second Half Goals Sink Broncos in Loss to Tritons
The Broncos lost to visiting UC San Diego by a score of 2-0 on Sunday night.
After a scoreless first half, UCSD got on the board first in the 60th minute on a counterattack. Carter Jacobus fed the ball to Max Carvalho, whose left-footed shot was just out of the reach of Santa Clara goalkeeper Felix Schaefer.
In the 77th minute, the Tritons put the game away when Mason Haubrich dribbled from the sideline into the penalty area, deked Santa Clara’s Caden Buckley, and fired a soft shot that Schaefer mishandled and could only watch as it slowly made its way into the back of the net.
No Goals in Broncos’ Opener
Santa Clara’s opener ended in a scoreless draw with UNLV. The host Broncos outshot the Rebels 19-14, including 14-5 in the second half.
Santa Clara’s best chances came in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Joshua Dabora’s shot near the six yard box was saved by UNLV goalkeeper Andrew Sway. And in the 80th minute, Oladayo Thomas’ header glanced off the crossbar.
Schaefer made five saves in his Santa Clara debut, while Sway had two for UNLV.
Saint Mary’s (1-1)
Northern Illinois Beats Gaels Thanks to First Half Goals
On Sunday afternoon, the Gaels lost to Northern Illinois by a score of 2-1, thanks to Miguel Maynez, Jr., who set up both of the Huskies’ goals.
In the 11th minute, Maynez’s shot hit the crossbar and rebounded to Angel Rodriguez, who blasted it home from the top of the box.
The Huskies extended their lead in the 40th minute, when Harry Jolley won a free kick 30 yards from goal. Maynez hit a floater toward the back post. Parker Jeppson timed his leap perfectly to head the ball into the net.
Felix Calero scored the Gaels’ only goal in the 47th minute, heading home a cross by Riley Lynch.
74th Minute Winner Leads Gaels Over Niagara
Saint Mary’s beat Niagara 3-2 on Thursday afternoon. Two of the Gaels’ goals were set up by long throw-ins by Christian Engmann that created chaos in the box, including the game-winner in the 74th minute. A Purple Eagle defender tried to head the ball out, but it went straight to Jack Vestberg who volleyed it into the net.
Engmann also set up the Gaels’ first goal in the 29th minute. His long throw-in bounced off of two Niagara defenders and into the path of Bastian Toelhoej, who blasted it home from the edge of the six-yard box.
The Purple Eagles took the lead early in the second half, thanks to set piece goals from Federico Cugge in the 47th minute and Rodrigo Almeida in the 50th. But the Gaels tied up the match 9 minutes later, on a goal by Omar Yehya, set up on a through ball from Greg Brighton.
Saint Mary’s goalkeeper Kash Oladapo made several saves in the final five minutes of the match, including snuffing a breakaway from Asher Barnes in the 86th minute.
USF (2-0)
Second Half Rally Enables Dons to Top Niagara
A pair of second half goals enabled the Dons to earn a 2-0 win over visiting Niagara on Saturday night. Andri Jonasson set up the first goal three minutes into the second half. He made a run along the left side into the box and sent a short cross to Max Hamelink for a one-timer that Niagara goalkeeper Jamie Barry’s desparate dive could not reach.
The same three players figured in the second goal in the 64th minute. Hamelink took a shot from the right side, Barry made a diving stop, but the rebound went to straight to Jonasson for the emphatic finish.
Dons Beat Northern Illinois in See-Saw Opener
The Dons won their opening match of the season on Thursday afternoon, when they came roaring back with two goals in the final seven minutes to beat Northern Illinois by a score of 3-2.
Nathan Simeon set up USF’s first goal in the 26th minute on a cross that Huskies goalkeeper Martin Sanchez couldn’t get a hand on, leaving Max Chretien open for a soft header into the empty net.
But the visitors grabbed the lead in the second half, thanks to goals from Camilo Estrada in the 53rd minute and Harry Jolley in the 76th minute.
USF evened the match with 7 minutes remaining, when Hamelink scored on the rebound after Dominic Valdivia’s shot from 30 yards out hit the post. The game-winner came with less than 2 minutes remaining. Simeon made a run into the box and sent a short cross to Valdivia perched in front of the goal. Valdivia’s soft header perched inside the far post.
San Jose State (1-1)
Early Goal Powers Sacramento State Past Spartans
Host Sacramento State knocked off San Jose State by a score of 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Ali Sasankhah scored in the 7th minute for the Hornets, pouncing on a loose ball in the box for his first career goal.
Santa Clara transfer Dominic Vegaalban doubled the Hornets’ lead in the 76th minute, as Gaelen Filtzanidis grabbed a loose ball and pushed it forward for Vegaalban. Spartan goalkeeper David Sweeney scrambled to get back into position, but Vegaalban deked him, then poked the ball into an empty net.
Diego Delgadillo scored from a sharp angle to get the Spartans back into the match in the 87th minute, but the visitors couldn’t bag an equalizer.
Spartans Shut Out Bakersfield
The Spartans took the lead on a set piece in the 5th minute and never looked back in their 2-0 home win over CSU Bakersfield on Thursday evening. Angel Iniguez sent his free kick toward the far post and Josh Redfield headed the ball into the path of Kasper Poulsgaard for the tap-in.
Joel Garcia put the match away for the Spartans in the 69th minute. CSUB goalkeeper Filippo Dadone rushed out to save his first shot attempt, but Garcia grabbed the rebound and blasted a shot in between two defenders and into the empty net.
