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Box Score
In what was a superb soccer game, the Cougar men
battled #26 Fresno Pacific on Monday for 104 minutes, with CSUSM
eventually suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in double overtime.
A large and loud crowd of fans came down to Mangrum Field to cheer
on their Cougars, and they were treated to an intense,
tightly-contested match that could have gone either way. Play
centered around the middle of the field, with neither squad
generating much of a sustained attack until late in the game, when
the blazing hot conditions began wearing both teams down and opening
up some holes.
The best first half opportunities came past the 40th minute, as both
teams nearly scored. CSUSM newcomer Felix Gonzalez-Dalmas drew a
foul deep in FPU territory, and Jose Rivas rocketed the free kick
about two feet from the corner of the net. Fresno would answer in
the 45th minute with a scoring chance of their own, as Pablo Campos
broke in free on Cougar keeper Trent Painter, appearing to beat him
to a jump ball and knock it into the net – but a foul was called on
Campos to keep the game scoreless.
CSUSM would finally break through in the second half, getting on the
board when Michael Nuovo corralled a loose ball after a free kick,
and slid it beautifully into the corner of the net. Nuovo appears to
have picked up where he left off in 2006, when he was the team’s
second leading goal scorer.
But the Cougars’ lead would be short-lived. The CSUSM would misplay
a ball in the corner, and Fresno’s Adrian Alvarado would take
advantage, sliding a pass across to Amaury Nunes for an easy goal
past keeper Tashi Nakanishi, who came in at the half for starter
Trent Painter.
The game would remain scoreless through regulation and the first
overtime, though both teams came close to ending it on multiple
occasions. Nakanishi saved the game with a tip save off a free kick
late in regulation, and Nuovo blocked another free kick that
threatened to end the game in overtime. For the Cougars’ part,
returning goal scoring leader Bradley Seidenglanz, who had an
uncharacteristically quiet day, got a one-on-one opportunity with
the keeper in overtime – but made one too many moves and wasn’t able
to get a shot off.
That was not the most memorable missed breakaway opportunity,
however. Throughout the game, the raucous crowd had centered in on
Fresno striker Cameron Hill, chanting “Caaaameron” whenever he
touched the ball. Late in the first overtime, Hill received a pass
over the Cougar defense, and proceeded to beat Nakanishi to the
corner. With a wide open net, the game was virtually over – but Hill
struck his shot wide, generating the loudest cheer of the day from
the euphoric crowd.
Finally though, the game would end in the second overtime, with
Alvarado and Nunes once again hooking up for the score. Alvarado
beat his defender and struck a low shot, which Nakanishi was able to
stop – but Nunes was there for the tap-in goal to send the crowd
home disappointed.
Despite the frustrating loss, it was still a strong effort from the
Cougar men, considering. Fresno Pacific featured some special
talents, and could easily be a top-25 team by season’s end; yet the
scrappy Cougars played them on equal ground and nearly pulled off
the win. The major bright spot, according to Coach Pulvers, was
speedy freshman defender Greg Reese.
“Greg was fantastic,” commented Pulvers following the loss. “He fit
right in and made some great plays.”
The Cougar men will pack up and head out to a tournament in Utah
this week, and won’t play another home game until September 13th. |
