Posted: Oct 14, 2017
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer scored three goals in the first half and hung on to win, 4-2, against Saint Mary's in a nail biter on Saturday night.
The Broncos improved to 2-0-0 in the West Coast Conference and 2-9-0 overall while the Gaels dropped to 1-1-0 in conference and 4-5-3 overall.
Against a stodgy Gaels defense that's allowed only 11 goals in 11 games coming into Saturday, Santa Clara exploded for three first half goals on two penalty kicks and a Saint Mary's own goal.
Valdemar Andersen opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute for the Broncos when he slotted his penalty shot past Gaels goalkeeper Andrew Konstantino. Santa Clara was awarded the penalty kick when a Bronco player was pushed in the back inside the box by a Gaels defender.
Three minutes later the Broncos were helped out by a Gaels own goal when Maxwell Mirner could not clear the ball and flicked the ball past Konstantino.
Santa Clara was awarded with its second penalty of the half in the 37th minute when Miles Robinson was fouled by a sliding Gaels goalkeeper inside the box. Ruiz Duran took the penalty kick to make it 3-0 Broncos.
With the game seemingly in control for the Broncos, Saint Mary's made it interesting, first scoring a goal right before the half to make it 3-1.
And midway through the second half, the Gaels' further cut into the Broncos lead when Anders Engebretsen took advantage of a misplayed ball by the Santa Clara defenseman. Konstantino's goal kick hit off a Bronco player which Engebretsen found himself in a one-on-one situation with SCU goalkeeper Dakota Havlick to make it a 3-2 game.
Saint Mary's kept the pressure for the remainder of the game before Carlos Delgadillo put the game away in the last minute of the game, sending his own rebound shot past Konstantino for the final score of the game, 4-2.
VIDEO | HC Cameron Rast talks about the 4-2 win against @SMC_MSoccer as the Broncos improve to 2-0 in @WCCsports play. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/B77vlfcEAa
— SCU Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) October 15, 2017
HIGHLIGHTS | The biggest moments from tonight's 4-2 victory over Saint Mary's in 60 seconds! #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos #SCUGrandReunion pic.twitter.com/tw78WdJJqY
— SCU Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) October 15, 2017
NOTES
• In the pregame, former Bronco All-American David Palic was honored with a jersey ceremony.
• Santa Clara is now 42-8-6 all-time against Saint Mary's.
• Delgadillo's goal, his 23rd in his career, moved him into sole position of eighth place for the most career goals. Next up, Anthony Chimienti (1998-01) with 25 goals.
• Andersen's goal was the second consecutive game that he has scored a goal, following a free kick goal in the last match against San Francisco.
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The Broncos hosts Pacific in a West Coast Conference contest on Tues., Oct.17 at 7 p.m.
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