LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Playing without senior stars Brandon Zimmerman and Mykell Bates, the Santa Clara University men's soccer team was edged in overtime, 1-0 by Loyola Marymount Friday afternoon in Los Angeles.
John McFarland headed-in the game-winner at 96:35 off an assist by Tyler Krumpe and Aurtur Jozkowicz. LMU (4-9; 2-3 WCC) – picked as the preseason favorites to win the league – earns the win and three points in its aim to move up in the WCC standings.
Santa Clara (6-4-3; 2-3 WCC) has lost three straight after going unbeaten throughout the majority of its September schedule. Zimmerman missed Friday's game due to card accumulation and Bates was forced to sit out with a nagging injury.
In a rare three-minute span just before halftime, first Santa Clara's Gabriel Romero was issued a red card, then LMU's Craig Nitti was given one, setting the stage for a 10-man game throughout play following halftime.
Bronco Erik Hurtado had a shot bounce off the crossbar in the second half, one of 13 shots for the SCU offense on the day. Hurtado had a team-high four attempts and senior teammate Connor Mitchell added three.
SCU out-shot LMU 13-9 overall, however each team managed just one shot on target prior to McFarland's winner in OT.
The Broncos continue their Southern California road trip Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium in San Diego.