SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Down a goal with less than a minute to play in regulation, the Santa Clara men's soccer team was able to send the match against Saint Mary's into overtime off of a header by Matt Escobar with nine seconds remaining. The Broncos then fell to the Gaels in the first overtime, 2-1. Santa Clara moves to 6-8-4 and 2-3-1 in the WCC while Saint Mary's improves to 11-5-2 and 4-2 in the WCC.
Looking forward, Santa Clara takes on San Francisco in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
The Broncos outshot the Gaels, 16-12, with Santa Clara tallying eight shots on goal to SMC's seven. Sophomore Escobar scored his first goal of the season in the 90th minute for the Broncos while Edson Cardona put two chances on frame in his five attempts. Jared Hegardt, Steve Eneme, Satoshi Chaffin and Carlos Delgadillo added to the Bronco offense. Goalkeeper Carl Carrwik collected his fifth start of the season against SMC and grabbed five saves during the double overtime match.
Saint Mary's goals came in the 90th minute by Max Mirner and in the 97th minute by Antonio Lokossou. Three other Gael's collected shots on goal. Keeper Andre Rawls tallied seven saves.
In the first half, the Broncos outshot the Gaels, 6-4, creating three corner kick opportunities. Each side had three saves apiece. Both teams went into the locker rooms at half scoreless, 0-0.
Santa Clara came out in the second half with some energy. Cardona and Chaffin created two dangerous opportunities with strong strikes from distance that just sailed wide.
In the 64th minute, Eneme brought the ball down into the attacking third where he found Delgadillo in the box who then played a skillful flick to Hegardt. Hegardt's shot from the top of the 6-yard box was blocked by the Saint Mary's keeper and the rebound attempt by Eneme was saved again by Rawls. The Broncos kept up the offensive pressure and took a corner kick a minute later.
In the 75th, Santa Clara was awarded a free kick opportunity about 10 yards outside of the 18 yard box. Cardona whipped in the kick with his left foot, sailing just over the crossbar. Eneme kept up the attack with a blocked shot in the 76th minute.
The long throw in was on for Santa Clara in Moraga this afternoon. Off of Escobar's throw, Eneme put in a great cross into the box that found the head of Hegardt. With pace, Hegardt's header went wide left in the 86th minute.
With the clock winding down in regulation, the Broncos had a few last minute chances. Saint Mary's capitalized in the 90th minute when Mirner scored his first goal of the season. Nicolas Gamp crossed the ball into the box and Mirner slotted it past Carrwik to go up, 1-0, with 55 seconds left.
With 20 seconds remaining, Santa Clara's last chance came in a corner kick opportunity. Vass put the ball in play and Escobar headed it in the back of the net at 89:51, sending the game into overtime in thrilling fashion.
Reenergized and carrying some momemtum, Delgadillo put another shot on frame that was saved in the 94th minute. The Broncos had two back to back corner kick opportunities.
Then three minutes later, Saint Mary's took the ball down the field and missed a shot wide. Gerardo Mendoza kept the play alive and put a cross into the middle of the box when Lokossou finished his shot and the game in the 97th minute.
The match ended during the first overtime in the Gael's favor, 2-1.
In it's final game of the season, Santa Clara takes on USF in San Francisco, Calif. on Sat., Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: A total of 3 yellow cards were given … attendance was 185.
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