Nov. 7, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara men's soccer team (4-8-6, 2-4-4 WCC) wrapped up the home-half of the 2008 schedule this evening with a 2-2 double overtime draw versus conference rival Saint Mary's College (4-8-4, 3-3-3 WCC). The Broncos' celebrated Senior Day prior to kick off, honoring seniors Brian Martin, Aaron Clubb and Jide Ogunbiyi in their last home game at Buck Shaw Stadium.
In an aggressive West Coast Conference contest, the two Bay Area teams fought hard in the even matched game. SCU got out to a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute, when sophomore Jalil Anibaba received Brian Bruggner's corner kick. Anibaba settled the ball, to shoot it past the Gaels keeper Jason Badger into the far corner. The Broncos' lead was short lived as SMC's Tom Mohoric headed the ball into the near post past Santa Clara's goalkeeper Naushad Godrej, who got his second start of the season.
After concluding the first half tied, SCU took their second lead of the game at the 53:47 minute mark. Anibaba crossed the ball to Alex Fitschen, whose shot sailed past Saint Mary's Badger, for his first career goal. The Broncos maintained the 2-1 lead until the final five minutes of regulation, when the Gaels Jordan Grider scored to even the match at 2-2. Grider followed through on a deflected ball, to convert his shot from outside the box past Godrej.
In two overtime periods the Broncos could not get on the board to earn a win in their final game at home and they kept the Gaels out of the net. This was SCU's fifth double overtime draw of the season and this is the second tie this season between SCU and SMC. In their first meeting in Moraga, Calif. on Oct. 12, they concluded the match with a goal apiece. Santa Clara concludes the 2008 campaign on the road in Southern California at Loyola Marymount on Friday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m., followed by a trip to the University of San Diego on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.
