SANTA CLARA, Calif. - A balanced offense and a stalwart defensive effort lifted Santa Clara men's soccer to a 3-1 victory over San Francisco in the West Coast Conference opener on Saturday night at Stevens Stadium.
Three players tallied a goal for Santa Clara (7-1-1, 1-0) including career firsts as a Bronco by Joshua Dabora and Tyrone Kirunda.
The Broncos opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Penn State transfer Joshua Dabora headed in a service from Javier Ruiz Duran. On the play, Alejandro Barajas got the ball just outside the midfield circle on a defensive clearance by the Dons, delivered a pass to the right side to Ruiz Duran who one timed the ball into the box finding the head of six-foot-four Dabora to give SCU a 1-0 lead.
Just before intermission in the 44th minute, Oladayo Thomas added to this league leading goal total with his sixth of the year. Ruiz Duran threaded the ball to Thomas between two Dons defenders who shot it over goalkeeper Brandon Keninston to double the Bronco lead.
Meanwhile, defensively, Santa Clara held the Dons to just one shot in the opening half which came 35 minutes into the match.
Kirunda closed out the Broncos scoring in the 60th minute when he ran down a long ball from Thomas and off the bounce, knocked it over the head of the incoming Keninston.
San Francisco (1-7, 0-1) spoiled the shutout effort with a goal in the waning seconds when Nonso Adimabua headed in a cross from Jack Boccuzzi.
The Broncos outshot the Dons 13 to 7 in the match led by Dabora with a game-high three, all of which were on target.
NOTES:
• Santa Clara is now 28-37-10 all-time against San Francisco with the first meeting coming in 1967.
• Oladayo Thomas has tallied 16 points on the year scoring his league leading sixth goal and adding an assist.
INTERVIEW:
Post game thoughts by head coach Cam Rast on the @wccsports opening 3-1 win over San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/U0yf99UmPO
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) October 3, 2021
NEXT UP:
The Broncos face Pacific on Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Stevens Stadium.
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