SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Returning to Buck Shaw Stadium after a three-match SoCal road trip, the Santa Clara men's soccer team could not top the No. 15 team tonight, falling 4-0 to Cal. This is just the second game this season the Broncos allowed multiple goals since their 3-2 win at Nebraska-Omaha on Aug. 29.
The Broncos move to 4-3-1 on the season while the Bears improve to 6-1-0.
"We give a lot of credit to Cal for coming in here and doing a great job," said Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast. "They were organized and executed technically very well, keeping us off balance and moving the ball quickly. We have to be able to compete and physically battle to stop scoring plays. We will look back and see a lot of missed tackles, late steps and soft play. Tonight we needed to be sharper. This will either be a great lesson and a way to solve some problems or we are going to continue to learn hard lessons."
The visiting team outshot the Broncos 18-12, with Santa Clara putting five shots on frame. Freshman Steve Eneme was an offensive force for the Broncos Friday night, attempting four shots and striking three on goal. Sophomore Parker Holland and junior Max Ornstil also tallied shots on goal during the 90 minutes. Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh collected seven saves, making five in the second half against the Bears.
Cal got off to a fast start with a shot from Christian Thierjung in the fourth minute, but McIntosh made a great save to deny the first attempt. The Bears put up two more shots and garnered two corner kick opportunities by the end of the sixth minute.
Santa Clara's offense responded with a great chance in the seventh minute. Sophomore Matt Steurer played a skillful ball into the box that found the head of Eneme. Almost making it over the head of the keeper, Cal's Justin Taillole collected his first save of the night.
"Steve and Ryan Masch were players tonight who jumped on every ball, but a lot of guys were caught watching in the moment," said Rast. "We needed to move towards the ball and make sure it goes in. The decisiveness of our play has to be there."
The first Cal goal of the night came in the 27th minute from a pass by Connor Hallisey to Thierjung who volleyed it to the upper right corner from the top of the 18-yard box.
Santa Clara outshot Cal in the first half 7-4 and displayed quick forward progression from the play of Carlos Delgadillo and Edson Cardona. The two San Jose, Calif. natives produced a dangerous opportunity in the 43rd minute with a through ball to Ornstil who then struck a long direct shot outside the box that went just wide.
At the start of the second half, Cal scored its second goal in the 52nd minute. With the help from Jose Carrera-Garcia, Max Oldham beat the last Bronco defender and slotted it passed McIntosh to the lower right corner of the net.
The Bears ended the night with two goals in eight minutes. Omid Jalali tallied his first score of the season with a header that hit the bottom of the crossbar to bounce over the goaline. Oldham was credited with the assist in the 73rd minute. Not too long later, Hallisey collected his seventh goal of the season in the 80th minute.
Santa Clara pushed a number of last second shots and a corner kick opportunity but the No. 15 team proved its strength.
At the end of the night, Rast gave a lot of credit to Cal and looks forward to conference competition. "We start West Coast Conference play next weekend on the road and we have to know who we are. Let's own this result, but we have to find out what we are capable of in the attacking third moving forward."
The Broncos open WCC play at Loyola Marymount on Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. and then host San Diego on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
Game Notes: Attendence was 452 … a total of four yellow card cautions were given.
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