SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer defeated Portland 3-1 on Saturday night to win the West Coast Conference championship for the 13th time in program history and secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Broncos (11-1-3, 5-0-1) jumped on the Pilots (9-6-1, 3-2-1) early scoring just 24 seconds into the game courtesy of Damani Osei's left foot and never looked back. Oladayo Thomas and Eduardo Lopez Perez each tallied a goal for SCU who were in full control of the game throughout.
Osei opened the scoring on a free kick from Javier Ruiz Duran after Kevin Bonilla was given a yellow card just outside the 18 yard box.
The physical contest between the top two teams in the WCC standings saw 18 fouls called in the first half where the Broncos took a 1-0 lead into intermission.
Just like they did in the opening half, Santa Clara got on the board early in the second half when Thomas' shot hit a Portland defender's arm inside the box for a handball leading to a penalty kick opportunity. Thomas calmly slotted the ball past the Pilots goalkeeper George Tasouris to double the lead in the 49th minute.
The Pilots made things interesting when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 68th minute that Sebastian Nava converted to cut the Broncos lead in half, 2-1.
Holding onto a one goal lead, the Broncos added an insurance goal by Eduardo Lopez Perez in the 73rd minute to quell the Pilots bid for a comeback.
Passes by Juan O'Neill and Thomas found Lopez Perez who redirected the ball just outside the six to push the Santa Clara lead back up by two goals.
Ruben Stuiver made three saves for SCU and was helped by the woodwork with a couple of the shots bouncing off the post and the crossbar to pick up his third win of the season while Tasouris was credited with two saves.
A total of 37 fouls were called in the contest, 20 by Santa Clara and 17 by Portland.
NOTES:
• Santa Clara is now 24-20-8 all-time against Portland.
• During pregame, nine Bronco seniors - Alex Achramowicz, Alejandro Barajas, Keanu Born, Sakari Carter, Andreu Cases Mundet, Nicholas Cudini, Juan O'Neill, Javier Ruiz Duran and Ruben Stuiver - were recognized.
• Oladayo Thomas' game-winning goal was his third of the season.
• Thomas who entered the match leading the WCC in goals tallied his ninth of the year.
• Javier Ruiz Duran entered the match tops in the WCC in assists recorded his ninth of the year.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Damani Osei on the set up from @javiruiz_9#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/exy6p0lmI3
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) November 7, 2021
Hand ball in the box turns into a @thomsvic12 penalty kick. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/rXdkdQbyEH
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) November 7, 2021
Eduardo Lopez Perez redirects the pass from @thomsvic12#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/mQEepBkzjH
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) November 7, 2021
�������� ������������������ ��#StampedeTogether | @wccsports pic.twitter.com/vwOi9JxcHn
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) November 7, 2021
NEXT UP:
The Broncos close out the regular season at LMU on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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