Posted: Oct 27, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. – Santa Clara men's soccer lost 1-0 to Portland despite outshooting the Pilots 17-6, including 6-2 on frame, at Merlo Field on Friday night. The lone goal of the match came a minute into the second half when Caua Soares scored on a cross from Rey Ortiz.
"In terms of the quality of play, tonight's game might have been one of our best games we've played this season," said head coach Cameron Rast. "But in the second half, they scored right away after we had talked about it at the half to not give anything away quickly but two minutes in and we were chasing it."
The Broncos dropped its record to 2-12-0 overall and 2-2-0 in conference while the Pilots improved to 8-5-1, 3-0-1 to remain atop the league standings. Santa Clara now sits in sixth place in conference but is only a game back in the loss column to the second through fourth place teams.
The Broncos created plenty of scoring opportunities but just could not find the back of the net. Senior Carlos Delgadillo nearly outshot the Pilots himself, getting credited for five shots compared to six total for Portland.
"In the first half, we had two or three really good chances. But we wanted it so bad, we over hit our chances and missed the goal," said Rast.
Delgadillo had golden opportunities to score in both halves. In the first half, the senior's shot from outside the box sailed just over the cross bar. And in the 80th minute, Delgadillo's point blank shot was stopped by Portland's goalkeeper, Paul Christensen, who recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season.
"We didn't score and that was the definer," said Rast. "Now it puts us in a position that will be difficult to overcome." The Broncos have three more conference matches, two on the road at Gonzaga on Sunday and a week later at Loyola Marymount before the regular season finale at home versus San Diego on Nov. 11.
NOTES
• Santa Clara is now 22-18-8 all-time against Portland.
• Keanu Mendoza was the lone substitute for the Broncos, spelling for Nate Shue.
• Along with Delgadillo, Mendoza led the Broncos in shots on goal with two.
• Javier Ruiz Duran and Miles Robinson each had three shots with one on frame between them.
UP NEXT
The Broncos will remain in the Pacific Northwest to play at Gonzaga on Sunday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m.
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