Oct. 11, 2003
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Erik Ustruck's first collegiate goal inthe 55th minute proved to be the game-winner for the 9th-ranked Santa Clara men's soccer team as they defeated San Francisco by a score of 2-1 Friday night at Negoesco Stadium on the USF campus. The win moves the Broncos' record to 9-2-3 overall and 1-0 in league play while dropping the Dons to 5-8-0 overall and 0-1 in West Coast Conference action.
After Gabe Sturm put in a short shot off a feed from Luke Holmes at the 28:10 mark, the Dons looked like they would take a lead into halftime. However, Jason Pan netted his second goal of the season with less than a minute remaining in the half, blasting a free-kick from just outside the penalty area past USF goalkeeper Travis Sharp to tie the contest.
Santa Clara scored the winning goal on an unusual play as Kellen Gilmore took a throw in deep in USF territory, rolling the ball through the penalty box untouched, past the far post right to the waiting foot of Usruck who was able to blast it in from short range.
The Bronco defense limited the San Francisco offense to only six shots on the evening, four of which were on goal. Netminder Steve Cronin made a season-high three saves on the night as he saw his goals-against average for the season actually rise a few points to 0.62 on the year.
SCU returns to action next weekend at home, hosting the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 7 p.m. in Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday night, October 18. The match will mark the first home league contest for the Broncos this season.