SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After 110 minutes of play on hot Sunday afternoon, the Santa Clara men's soccer team drew a 1-1 tie against San Francisco. The Broncos improved to 4-4-3 and the Dons move to 6-3-2.
"It was a scrappy game with some decent moments of soccer," said Santa Clara head coach Cameron Rast after the match. "We are determining how we can win games and what style is going to be the best way for us to be the best team this year. Our challenge is to be able to determine that and be committed to that as a group. We learned a lot about ourselves today. Credit to USF for battling the whole way."
The visiting team outshot the Broncos 17-15, with Santa Clara putting three on frame. Matt Steurer collected his first goal of the season today to give Santa Clara the tie. Steve Eneme, Cesar Rocha and James Huffer added to the offense force with shots on goal over the two overtime periods. Goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh tallied five saves against San Francisco.
Rocha got the Broncos started with a strong strike in the 26th minute that went just high. USF responded ten minutes later off of a free kick outside the 18-yard box. The ball sailed to the head of Sixto Porras who put it to the upper right corner, but was denied by McIntosh's save.
USF got its chance in the 38th minute when Manny Padilla slipped a through ball to Porras in the 6-yard box. He hit the post, but was able to rebound his shot and put it in the back of the net.
Alfie Edmonds of Santa Clara had a dangerous last second shot that could have tied the game up right before halftime. Edmonds' ball was heading towards the upper right corner but went just wide. The first half ended in San Francisco's favor 1-0.
A good opportunity came to the Broncos in the 60th minute when they were awarded a corner kick. Parker Holland put his head on the ball but just missed. The Dons responded with their own offensive attack in the 70th minute when Migual Aguilar made an overlapping run and crossed the ball into the box that then turned into a corner kick opportunity for USF. David Romney won a header challenge but it sailed wide to the left side of the goal.
The Dons kept up the offensive momentum with another shot by Aguilar five minutes later. McIntosh made a great save and Santa Clara was able to clear the corner kick.
The Broncos resilience paid off in the 84th minute when Carlos Delgadillo skillfully passed the ball to Steurer who was 10-yards into the box. The sophomore tallied his first goal of the season with a slotted ball with his right foot to the bottom left corner passed the USF keeper.
"We had a mistake in the back but were strong mentally to come through that," said Rast. "In the end, it was a great moment for Matt."
Regulation ended and the first overtime period was underway when Santa Clara was given a free kick opportunity just outside the 18-yard box in the 99th minute. Senior Glenn Vass took the shot, but was blocked by the USF wall. A dangerous opportunity for San Francisco came in the 100th minute when Aguilar had a breakaway and found Danny Kirkland to his left. The Santa Clara defensive proved its strength and cleared the ball before it reached the goal.
In the second overtime period, Bryce Kaminski of the Dons had a header off of a free kick that went over the goal in the 103rd minute of the match. Huffer responded with a header of his own three minutes later but was denied by Chase Hauser in the net.
In a thrilling last second attempt, Delgadillo found himself on a final breakaway and shot the ball from outside the 18-yard box. The ball was blocked by USF defense and the final whistle blew.
Santa Clara starts its quest for the West Coast Conference Championships on Fri., Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. against Gonzaga in Buck Shaw Stadium. Then the Broncos will take on Portland on Sun., Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.
Game Notes: Attendance was 325 … a total of eight yellow card cautions were given.
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