Posted: Aug 19, 2018
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer got goals from Javier Ruiz Duran and Sam Agosti in the first half and never looked back, taking down San José State 2-1 in the preseason finale on Sunday night at Stevens Stadium.
The Broncos managed to get off to a quick start having learned its lesson from last Wednesday's preseason match tie when it conceded two goals in the first six minutes. On Sunday, Santa Clara got on the scoreboard in the eighth minute on Ruiz Duran's penalty kick when sophomore Alex Achramowicz was tackled inside the penalty area by a Spartan defender.
The sophomore from Barcelona, Spain calmly slotted the penalty kick to the lower left corner while the San José State goalkeeper Rodrigo Reyes-Zavalza jumped the opposite way. For Ruiz Duran, it was his second goal in as many preseason matches.
In the 40th minute, Santa Clara extended its lead to 2-0 when junior Sam Agosti took a feed from Alan Camacho Soto in front of the goal and slipped the ball past Reyes-Zavalza. Camacho Soto once again found himself getting on the score sheet with his assist following the game-tying goal on Wednesday.
Santa Clara took a 2-0 lead into the half, outshooting SJSU, 5-2.
In the second half, the Spartans applied the pressure early getting off three shots in the first four minutes before breaking through in the 51st minute. Zach Penner took a cross from Omar Lemus and found the back of the net on a volley to cut into the Broncos lead, 2-1.
The Broncos were outshot 10-4 in the second half but did not allow another goal to pick up the 2-1 win.
Next up for Santa Clara is the regular season opener against San Diego State on Friday at Stevens Stadium. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Post match comments by Broncos HC Cam Rast after the 2-1 win over @sjsumsoccer in the preseason finale. Next up �� Friday regular season opener at HOME vs @AztecMensSoccer. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/Sz7SEjeSqQ
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) August 20, 2018
I mean c'mon. Was there any doubt? #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/lu8EFnEqdM
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) August 20, 2018
NOTES
• Sophomore Terrell Smith saw his first action of the preseason getting the starting nod and logging 37 minutes of play.
• Dakota Havlick, Emil Christensen and Brandon Gillingham played the full 90 minutes for the second consecutive match.
• The Broncos substituted in the same five players as the first preseason match: Agosti, Camacho Soto, Nate Shue, Julian Bravo and Dylan Carrubba.
