SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's soccer's Joshua Dabora and Dominic Vegaalban scored less than three minutes apart in a thrilling second half but Pacific got the equalizer in the 2-all draw in a West Coast Conference battle on Saturday night.
The Broncos (7-1-2, 1-0-1) and the Tigers (6-3-1, 1-0-1) combined to score three goals in a span of six minutes in an impressive display of scoring early in the second half.
Trailing 1-0, Joshua Dabora tied up the game for Santa Clara on a give-and-go with Oladayo Thomas in the 56th minute. On the play, Dabora headed in a service just inside the 18 to Thomas who chested back to Dabora for a one timer to the far post past the diving goalkeeper Eric Cotton.
Just three minutes later, Alejandro Perez sent in a cross from the right side that was headed in by Dominic Vegaalban to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead.
Unlike the first 45 minutes where Pacific held the majority of the possession and scored in the 25th minute, the Broncos had all the momentum to open up the second half, peppering the Tigers defense with the first six shots of the half including the two goals. However, Pacific regained the momentum with the equalizer in the 61st minute.
Erik Centeno's sliding shot from the six on a ball that was played back in by Mathias Saether beat Bronco goalkeeper Andreu Cases Mundet.
The Broncos had a golden opportunity to pull ahead in the 78th minute when Alex Achramowicz's shot was saved on the goal line by a Tiger defender.
Each team had two shots in both overtime periods as the game ended in a 2-all draw after 110 minutes of action.
Santa Clara held a 24 to 14 advantage in shots including 9 to 4 on frame. The Broncos also doubled the corner kick total 12 to 6.
Cotton had six saves compared to three for Cases Mundet.
NOTES:
• Santa Clara is now 17-5-5 all-time against Pacific with the first meeting coming in 1967.
• Oladayo Thomas who entered the match atop the conference lead in goals (six), assists (four) and points (16), tallied his fifh assist of the year.
• The goal by Derick Roque in the 25th minute was the first goal conceded by the Broncos in the opening half this season.
HIGHLIGHTS:
HIGHLIGHTS | Joshua Dabora and Dominic Vegaalban scored goals less than three minutes apart and Andreu Cases Mundet made clutch late saves in Saturday's matchup against Pacific!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/ECwPC0ji3u
— Santa Clara Men's Soccer (@SCUBroncoSoccer) October 10, 2021
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The Broncos have a nonconference match on Saturday, hosting Cal at 7 p.m.
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