|
(October 20, 2007) -- UC
Riverside played one of their best games of the year at the
UCR Soccer Stadium Saturday afternoon, but their valiant effort
fell short as the defending national champions #10 UC Santa
Barbara took the match 2-1. Sophomore Zach Walker scored the
goal for UCR (4-4-5, 1-2-3 Big West).
Both teams played to a
scoreless first half with UCSB (7-3-3, 4-1-1 Big West) out-shooting
the Highlanders 10-2. Highlander senior keeper Charles Alamo
played a flawless first 45 minutes, making two big time saves
after the Gaucho attack got through the UCR defense and unloaded
two shots towards the right corner, Alamo had to leave his
feet both times to keep the Highlander’s upset bid alive.
Both teams came out in the
second half, sensing opportunities to improve each other’s
position in the conference standings and continue their marches
towards post-season berths.
The Gauchos struck first,
just over one minute into the second half, UCSB’s Tino
Nunez and Ciaran O’Brien worked a give-and-go with Nunez
eventually feeding a crashing Eric Avila who slipped it past
Alamo into the right corner for the 1-0 advantage.
UCR answered with their
own attack, Alamo hammered a kick downfield, with the ball
landing just inside the UCSB box. Freshman Cito Soriano corralled
the ball and headed over two Gaucho defenders to Walker who’s
shot to the bottom left corner beat UCSB keeper Bryant Rueckner
to even it at 1-1.
Midway through the 62nd
minute, Nunez dribbled through the Highlander defense to draw
the defense to him, he then slipped the ball to his left to
a wide-open O’Brien who beat Alamo to give UCSB the
2-1 advantage.
The Highlanders could not
capitalize on a couple free-kicks inside Gaucho territory
as time wound down and UCSB held on for the win.
Alamo finished with five
saves and Rueckner made three saves.
UCR will continue their
playoff push as they travel to UC Irvine on Wednesday and
up to first-place Cal Poly on next Saturday.
|
