#25 Stanford (2-1)
Cardinal Routs Pacific 4-0
On Thursday, the Cardinal rebounded from last week’s loss at SMU with three first-half goals on their way to a resounding 4-0 win at Pacific. Ousseni Bouda was at the center of all three, with a goal and two assists in his second match after sitting out the last season with injury.
Bouda’s free kick enabled Zach Ryan to score on a free kick in the 8th minute. Twenty minutes later, Will Richmond set up Stanford’s second tally by making a run along the left side and sending in a cross that Bouda converted with a one-timer from the top of the box. In the 37th minute, Bouda found Andrew Aprahamian whose shot deflected off a Pacific defender and into the net. The Tigers’ best chance came in the 26th minute when Cardinal goalkeeper Matt Frank saved a shot from Erik Centeno.
Will Richmond closed out the scoring in the 70th minute, off of an assist from Mark Fisher. Richmond made his run along the left side, faked left and went right and took a hard shot that deflected off of an onrushing Pacific defender and into the net.
Cardinal Hang On to Beat UC Santa Barbara
On Monday night, Stanford beat UC Santa Barbara 2-1 in the club’s home opener.
The Cardinal opened the scoring in the 4th minute, when Ousseni Bouda made a run down the right side and sent in a short cross to Zach Ryan, who hit a one-timer toward the far post that goalkeeper Leroy Zeller could only admire. The Cardinal outshot the Gauchos 10-1 in the first half.
UC Santa Barbara dialed up their intensity in the second half, but the Cardinal struck again in the 50th minute, when Will Richmond laid the ball off to Cam Cilley who found Bouda with room to operate, 25 yards from goal. Bouda took a couple of dribbles and took a hard shot that scooted toward the far post, beyond the reach of a diving Zeller.
The Cardinal’s Will Richmond had a pair of shots on goal in the 65th minute, but the Gauchos kept up the pressure. It paid off in the 80th minute, when Rodney Michael sent in a through ball that found Finn Ballard McBride in a one-on-one with a Cardinal defender. Ballard McBride cut back to his right, took a couple of dribbles and found Thaabit Baartman alone on the right. Baartman’s one-timer settled in the upper left corner of the net, his third goal of the season.
The Gauchos kept pressing, searching desperately for the equalizer. Stanford goalkeeper Matt Frank stopped shots from Lucas Gonzalez and Ballard McBride in the final ten minutes of the match. Stanford’s final stop was a team effort: a Cardinal defender made a sliding tackle to slow down an on-target shot from Baartman in the 90th minute and Frank rushed over to the far post to punch it over the endline.
Cal (2-1-1)
Bears Win Home Opener Thanks to Second Half Surge
Second half goals by Jack Singer and Evan Davila enabled Cal to earn 2-0 victory over Dixie State in the Golden Bears’ home opener on Friday afternoon.
Both clubs had chances in the first half, with the Golden Bears’ Alonzo Del Mundo forcing Dixie State goalkeeper Jakob Moore to make three saves. The Trailblazers had five shots in the first 45 minutes, including two from Tony Foulger, but Cal goalie Chris Gustini was only required to make one save.
Singer opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, grabbing the rebound of a shot by Davila, who added the second goal ten minutes later, from a cross by Christopher Grey.
The Trailblazers got off five shots in the final 25 minutes of the match, including three from John Joseph. Gustini saved an 88th minute effort by Jimi Villasenor to earn the clean sheet.
Bears Beat UNLV Thanks to Honda’s First Collegiate Goal
On Sunday, the Bears trailed with less than 10 minutes in the match, but earned a 4-3 win over UNLV thanks to goals by Jack Singer in the 82nd minute and Shoei Honda two minutes later.
Both teams established their goal-scoring credentials early, with two goals each in the first 10:03 of the match. Singer opened the scoring in the second minute with a steal near the touchline. He made his run into the penalty area, cut the ball back to elude an attempted tackle by Jesus Partida, and finished with a left-footed strike. The Rebels’ Marco Gonzalez equalized 36 seconds later, on a pass from Lateef Omidiji Jr.
The Golden Bears regained the lead 36 seconds later, when Juan Martinez fed Evan Davila on the right side. Davila’s right-footed shot was just out of reach for UNLV goalkeeper Lukas Betz. The Rebels equalized less than 7 minutes later, when Gonzales fed Aedon Kyra.
The two clubs combined for 9 more shots in the remaining 35 minutes of the first half, but the score remained 2-2 at the break.
The Rebels grabbed the lead in the 65th minute, on a goal by Nicolas Likulia, assisted by Kyra.
The Golden Bears’ equalizer with 8 minutes left in regulation was set up by Fahmi Ibrahim, who received an entry pass from the midfield and immediately tapped it over to Singer, who dribbled it into the penalty area, cut back toward the middle, found space in a crowd of UNLV defenders, and took a left-footed shot that settled in the lower corner of the goal.
The game-winner came 2 minutes and 14 seconds later. Juan Martinez sent a long pass from the Cal half as Honda started his run. Honda chased down the ball just outside the penalty area as UNLV’s Mathew Ridley came up to challenge him. Honda cut back inside, shifted the ball between his left foot and right foot, and took a left-footed strike that caromed off of the near post toward the far post, crossing the goal line along the way.
Both clubs were credited with 12 shot attempts over the 90 minutes, including 7 shots on target.
Saint Mary’s (3-1)
Gaels Fall to Cal Poly
Saint Mary’s freshman Jack Vestberg scored in his second consecutive match, but Cal Poly grabbed control in the final 30 minutes to earn a 2-1 win over the Gaels in Moraga last Monday.
The Gaels outshot the Mustangs 6-1 in the first half, forcing Mustangs’ goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado to make saves on shots by Riley Lynch (9th minute), Boyd Curry (11th minute), and Louis Sterobo’s free kick from distance in the 22nd minute.
Vestberg’s goal came in the 60th minute when David Brog made a run through midfield and sent a ball into the open space along the left side. Vestberg caught up with the ball in the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot from a difficult angle that threaded the needle in between a diving Arce-Hurtado and Mustangs defender Logan Thralls.
But the Mustangs’ skill on set pieces ultimately proved to be the difference. It began in the 65th minute, when Neil Boyal’s corner kick slipped through a crowd of players in the box and found Conor Leber alone at the far post to nudge it into the net. Boyal also had two corner kick opportunities in the 76th minute. On the first, a header by the Mustangs’ Jacob Glass was on target, but Saint Mary’s defender Tyler Hardin cleared it off of the goal line. On the second, Glass found space in the middle and headed the ball just inside the far post for the game-winner.
The Gaels’ offense was quiet for the final 14 minutes of the match, while Saint Mary’s goalkeeper Nicolas Lapinid was tested again on shots by Luis Rodriguez in the 79th minute and Boyal in the 86th.
Gaels Win Battle with UNLV
Second half goals from Riley Lynch and Cade Cowen enabled Saint Mary’s to earn a 2-0 home win over UNLV on Friday afternoon.
The first half was very physical, with 10 fouls called on the Gaels and 9 on the Rebels. Saint Mary’s threatened early with shots by Christian Engmann and Louis Sterobo that went wide and an attempt by Cowen that was saved by UNLV goalkeeper Lukas Betz. Saint Mary’s goalkeeper Kash Oladapo saved shot attempts from Aedon Kyra and Marco Gonzalez.
Lynch opened the scoring on a strong individual effort in the 51st minute. He received a pass near the right touchline, faked to the right to get around a UNLV defender, then faked out a second defender to create enough space to fire a left-footed shot into the far-left corner of the net.
Cowen’s insurance goal in the 69th minute came on a corner kick. A UNLV defender headed it off the line and another tried to head it out of the zone, but Cowen won the ball at the edge of the penalty area, switched the ball to his left foot and volleyed it into the roof of the net as the leaping goalkeeper swiped at the air with his hand.
Oladapo earned in the clean sheet in his first start of the season, making five saves.
Gaels Capitalize on Dixie State Miscues to Earn 2-0 Win
The Gaels scored twice in the first four minutes and held on for a 2-0 home win over Dixie State on Monday afternoon.
In the 3rd minute, the Gaels’ Tyler Hardin made a run along the right side and sent in a cross. Two Trailblazer defenders tried to clear the ball, but ended up colliding with each other. Philippe Van der Lof pounced on the loose ball and sent a lethal right-footed strike that scooted under Dixie State goalkeeper Levi Lord.
One minute and 12 seconds later, the Gaels struck again. The Trailblazers’ Guglielmo Bianchi collided head-on with a teammate while trying to steal the ball from Van der Lof; Gael Quintero grabbed the loose ball at the 35 yard line, took several steps, and laid the ball off to Hardin on the wing. Hardin’s right-footed shot skipped across the turf and landed just inside the far post.
The Trailblazers had a couple of chances in the remainder of the first half. In the 18th minute, Idris Alabi fed Daniel Brubaker, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar. Four minutes later, the Trailblazers’ Jimi Villasenor had an open header on goal but his header went wide.
The Gaels put the ball in the net again in the 42nd minute, but the goal was called back for offside.
Dixie State forced Saint Mary’s goalkeeper Kash Oladapo to make four saves in the final 25 minutes of the match, including a spectacular diving save to his left on a shot by Villasenor in the 83rd minute. Matt Lockwood took three shots in the final 2:05, but only one was on target. Dixie State outshot the Gaels 21-15, but the Gaels had the edge in shots on target by a margin of 7-5.
USF (1-3)
Gauchos Overwhelm Dons Early
USF gave up two goals in the first 13 minutes and were unable to generate much offense in a 3-0 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Friday night.
The Gauchos’ first goal came in the 5th minute, when Ameyawu Muntari made a run along the right side and cut inside, where he was met by three USF defenders. He flicked it to Thaabit Baartman at the top of the penalty area. Baartman dribbled the ball to the spot that on the right side that Muntari had vacated and sent a two-hopper to the far post that eluded USF goalkeeper Charlie McKay.
In the 13th minute, Lucas Gonzalez’s corner kick was headed down by a USF defender, but the Gauchos’ Will Gillingham trapped the ball with his chest and sent in a short cross through the middle. Carson Vom Steeg’s first shot attempt bounced off of USF’s Nathan Simeon, but he volleyed home the rebound through the tight space between Simeon and McKay.
The Gauchos added a third in the 73rd minute, when Gonzalez’s cross from the left wing deflected off of Simeon toward Finn Ballard McBride at the far post. McBride trapped it and smashed it into the net as McKay rushed out in a desperate attempt to try and stop him.
Leroy Zeller earned the clean sheet for the Gauchos despite three shots on goal from Dominic Valdivia.
Dons are No Match for Mustangs
USF was unable to generate much offense in a 3-0 loss at Cal Poly on Monday afternoon.
The Mustangs opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Max Kleinhammes found Conner Leber in the penalty area. Leber took a couple of touches, then fired a shot past USF goalkeeper Charlie McKay at the right post.
Four minutes later, the Mustangs were awarded a penalty kick when USF defender Elias Thomas was called for a foul on James Burkholder. Andrew Forth converted the spot kick at the right post.
The Mustangs scored again in the 73rd minute, off of a free kick from Neil Boyal which went to Josh Graham, who headed it over to Jacob Glass, who headed it into the net.
Goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado recorded three saves, including key stops in the 80th and 83rd minutes to preserve the clean sheet.
Santa Clara (3-1)
Broncos Take Down American University
Santa Clara earned a crucial road win on Friday afternoon, beating American University 1-0.
Oladayo Thomas scored the only goal of the match in the 48th minute, as the Broncos methodically moved the ball up the field. Javier Ruiz Duran received a pass in the midfield with his back to the goal, then turned and passed the ball to Tyrone Kirunda making his run along the left sideline. Kirunda cut inside the defender and sprinted toward the goal line. Eagles goalkeeper Lorenzo Gordon made a desperate dive to try and block his cross, but it went straight to Thomas at the far post who one-timed it into the open net.
A 68th minute shot by Mustapha Sowe was the only save that Broncos’ goalkeeper Andreu Cases Mundet was required to make in recording his second clean sheet of the season. The Eagles’ Zemi Rodriguez had an opportunity in the final minute of play, but his shot went wide.
Broncos Fall to #2 Georgetown
In the finale of their two-match eastern road trip, the Broncos gave #2 Georgetown all they could handle, but ultimately lost 1-0 on a goal by Kieran Sargent in the 59th minute.
The winning goal came on a corner kick that Sean Zawadzki headed toward goal, but his attempt was blocked by the Broncos’ Caden Buckley. Sargent ran into the open space, grabbed the rebound, and blasted a shot that made its way through a group of defenders and past Broncos’ goalkeeper Andreu Cases Mundet, ending his 574 minute scoreless streak dating back to last season.
Georgetown controlled play early on, with 3 shots in the first 20 minutes, but Santa Clara’s Oladayo Thomas entered the match as a substitute and made a quick impact. In the 24th minute, Thomas’s shot from the edge of the penalty area forced Hoyas’ goalkeeper Ethan Koehler to make a diving save.
The Hoyas’ best first half chance came in the 44th minute, when Sargeant received a pass just outside the penalty area, cut back to his right and sent a soft pass to Dominic De Almeida, who blasted a hard shot from close range that Cases Mundet was able to get just enough of to deflect over the crossbar.
Thomas challenged Koehler in the 76th minute and again in the 82nd minute on a long ball into the Hoyas’ half, where he took on two defenders, made his way into the penalty area, and cut back to his left. His right-footed shot was on target, but Koehler was able to make the kick save.
The Hoyas nearly added a second goal in the 85th minute, when Zach Riviere’s one-timer caught Cases Mundet wrong-footed, but he was able to reach back over and push the shot away.
Overall, Georgetown outshot the Broncos 20-6, with a 5-3 edge on shots on goal.
San José State (2-1)
Spartans Fall to Sacramento State on Late Goal
San José State mounted another second half comeback, but Sacramento State’s Michael Gonzalez scored the game-winner in the 80th minute to give the Hornets a 3-2 victory that spoiled the Spartans’ home opener.
The Hornets got on the board first on a forceful header from Jhared Willcot in the 36th minute, set up by Oscar Govea’s pass to Tyler Moss on the wing and Moss’s cross to Willcot at the far post. Govea doubled the margin on a kneeling header in the 56th minute, from a cross by Genaro Alfaro.
The Spartans responded eight minutes later. Kameron Bolden’s shot hit the crossbar. Bolden leaped to claim the rebound and headed the ball over to Willy Miranda on the wing; Miranda fired a bullet that tucked inside the far post as defender Antonio Andres tried desperately to reach it. Omar Lemus evened the match in the 70th minute, when Max Allen’s cross from the left touchline found Lemus alone at the far post for an angled header that none of the Sacramento State defenders could reach.
The game-winner came off of an Alfaro free kick from 35 yards out as Gonzalez emerged from a crowd of players from both teams to redirect it into the net.
Spartans Outlast UC Davis in High-Scoring Match
Finlay Wood scored a goal and earned two assists in San José State’s 5-2 home victory over UC Davis on Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans’ Ryota Nakashima opened the scoring with his first collegiate goal in the 4th minute. Wood sent in a long ball from the San José State half, Nakashima beat Jake Haupt to the ball and chipped it over the head of Aggies’ goalkeeper Derrek Chan. UC Davis’s Andy Velasquez evened the match seven minutes later, converting a pass from teammate Robert Mejia.
Wood earned his second assist in the 21st minute, sending a through ball timed to meet Willy Miranda’s run along the right side. Miranda took one step and fired a low, hard shot that Chan couldn’t get a hand on. Wood also scored just before halftime on a penalty kick, after a foul by Scott Buie in the penalty area. Chan guessed correctly, but Wood’s powerful left-footed shot was perfectly placed inside the left post.
Charles Janssen took over in goal for the Aggies in the second half.
In the 75th minute, Tim Weidinger scored his first career goal to bring the Aggies within striking distance, but the Spartans’ Jamal Adam answered in the 85th minute, with assists by Omar Lemus and Kasper Poulsgaard.
With a minute and 10 seconds remaining, the Spartans’ Max Allen provided an exclamation point on his team’s victory. His direct free kick from the left side curved around the two-man wall and settled inside the near post as Janssen extended his body to try and knock it away.
