UCSD finished its regular season in style on Nov. 2 with a crucial 4-3 road victory against Grand Canyon University. The victory, coupled with a loss by Cal Poly Pomona, ensured that the Tritons kept their first place standing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division and will advance to the playoffs next week.
“”It was an all-around good game; we got everyone into play,”” said UCSD head coach Derek Armstrong. “”Grand Canyon won their last game and was hoping to finish strong.””
Grand Canyon wasted no time getting on the board at 3:54, when Luka Muslin scored off a pass from teammate Marcelo Soria, giving the Antelopes a quick 1-0 lead. The Tritons followed with some solid play that resulted in an unassisted goal at 25:55 from UCSD freshman Grant Nishio, who kicked in a rebound off Grand Canyon’s goalkeeper.
The Antelopes entered halftime with a 2-1 lead, however, after Grand Canyon’s Marcelo Soria scored on a penalty kick at 39:06.
The Tritons quickly evened the score at 2-2 with Junior Ali Managhebi’s first goal of the game, which came by way of a pass from sophomore Tiago Venturi 46 seconds into the second half. UCSD then took its first lead of the day when freshman Matthew Davey netted a shot from 30 yards out, making it 3-2. With only 1:18 left to play, Soria struck again for the Antelopes with his second goal of the game on an unassisted shot, forcing the game into overtime, tied at three apiece.
Just as the Tritons started out the second half strong, they came out equally strong in overtime, scoring at 93:04 when Managhebi scored his second goal of the game off a cross from the left corner by sophomore Magnus Lu.
“”Our last three goals of the game were just great goals,”” Armstrong said.
The Tritons outshot the Antelopes 13-10, including the sole shot in overtime that yielded the winning goal. UCSD also had seven corner kicks to Grand Canyon’s two. In addition, the Triton goalkeeping duo of junior Jeremy Cookson and sophomore Scott Mazurier combined for six saves.
Looking ahead, UCSD will begin the playoffs this week with a game against CCAA Central opponent Cal State Dominguez Hills. While CSU Dominguez Hills beat the Tritons in their first meeting this year, the Tritons are now accustomed to their style of play and should be ready for them this second time around.
“”We’ve got something going at the moment; we’ve made some changes and we’ve got some surprises in store for the game,”” Armstrong said. “”We need to hold them with our defense, which has been giving up goals lately, but we’ve been scoring goals, too, which is good. No one expects us to do anything in the playoffs, and hopefully we can use that to our advantage.””
