Revenge is sweet: The men¹s soccer team pulled off a big upset against CSU Dominguez Hills, who ended its postseason last year.
The theme that the UCSD men’s soccer team chose to focus on during this season is ³Step it up.² Heading into a Sept. 28 California Collegiate Athletic Association match against 9-0-1 CSU Dominguez Hills, ranked No. 2 nationally and No. 1 in the Far West Region, the Tritons knew that they had to step up their level of play in a big way.
“”I was happy to see [Dominguez Hills] come in with nine wins,² Triton head coach Derek Armstrong said about his opponent’s flawless start to the season. “”I thought they’re run had to end some time.²
The 2003 Toro 10-game unbeaten streak did come to an end at Triton Soccer Stadium. Not only did UCSD look more energized and physical than it did just two nights prior in a loose 3-1 victory over CSU Los Angeles, but the Tritons also upset the four-time defending CCAA champions 3-2 in a yellow-card-plagued game on a cool, clear night.
After the opening kick-off, not much time ran off the clock before UCSD tallied its first goal. In fact, just 1:17 into the contest, junior forward Tiago Venturi, the team’s leading goal scorer in 2002, recorded his first goal of the season when he took a pass from midfielder Brett Maurer to ricochet a shot off the left post into the goal. Maurer, only a freshman, notched his fourth assist of the year.
However, the Toros struck back just five minutes later. After the Tritons failed to clear a CSU Dominguez Hills corner kick out toward midfield, sophomore forward Francisco Corona banged one past UCSD senior goalkeeper Jeremy Cookson and into the right side of the net to tie the game.
Corona then put CSU Dominguez Hills ahead on his ninth goal of the season. He scored with 6:35 left in the first half on a booming long-range shot from outside the penalty box that beat a diving Cookson.
The first half ended with the Toros up 2-1 and having many scoring opportunities while keeping the ball on the UCSD side of the field for the majority of the first 45 minutes. CSU Dominguez Hills took eight corner kicks, but the Tritons challenged every ball to keep the Toros from running away with the game.
Both teams played physically, slide-tackling often, but referee Les Young blew his whistle on just about every aggressive play, calling 18 total fouls in the first half; the trend of physical and rough play would continue in the second half.
In the 71st minute, a Toro defender committed a foul on UCSD sophomore forward Grant Nishio. On the ensuing free kick by sophomore midfielder Matthew Davey, the ball was deflected by
CSU Dominguez Hills goalkeeper Javier Barragan, and Triton sophomore forward Jon Krupansky put the rebound at the back of the net to tie the game 2-2.
UCSD took the lead at 73:39. with the help of a couple of players whose jobs usually only focus on protecting a lead. Junior defender Luke Russell scored his fourth goal of the year, connecting with a corner kick by sophomore defender Robert Stetina. The goal gave the Tritons a 3-2 advantage, brought the UCSD fans to their feet, and made the Toros realize for the first time this season that they might lose a game.
In their 10 previous matches, the Toros have recorded six shutouts and have trailed in only one game. CSU Dominguez Hills was losing 2-0 against Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 22 at halftime, but scored three second-half goals to pull out a victory. The 3-2 deficit it suffered at Triton Soccer Stadium was the first real threat the Toros had faced all season.
After the UCSD goal, the Toros’ play intensified and kept pressure on the Triton defense, which allowed four CSU Dominguez Hills corner kicks in the final 14 minutes. CSU Dominguez Hills continued to make hard tackles, but they often resulted in a foul and a Triton free kick.
With 9:50 remaining in the game, the play stopped after CSU Dominguez Hills head coach Joe Flanagan got into an argument with Young on the sideline about questionable calls .
The discussion was just a precursor to the Toro meltdown in the game’s final minute. With just 47 seconds left, a CSU Dominguez Hills player made a good tackle on UCSD junior forward David Amaya, who fell on the play. While
down, Amaya was kicked in the back of the head by Toro midfielder Kevin Sosa. Sosa was given a yellow card, CSU Dominguez Hills’ fourth of the half and sixth of the game. It was changed into a red card after he got into a heated argument with the referee.
Play was stopped for several minutes as many Toro players surrounded Young, arguing with him. Barragan came out of his goal to argue with the official, and had to be restrained by several of his teammates. He received a red card and was ejected from the game.
After play resumed and the Tritons held on for the victory, the UCSD players celebrated 30 yards away from where a swarm of Toros had gathered around the referee, expressing their dismay with the officiating.
“”When you have so many wins, it’s tough to accept a loss. They would rather die,² Armstrong said of the Toros’ incessant arguing after falling behind. “”When you haven’t lost in so long, you think you’re invincible.²
Armstrong, who felt his team had not been playing up to its potential thus far this season, was especially pleased after the game.
“”Our boys played one heck of a game,² Armstrong said. “”When we play together like we did tonight, we can beat anyone.²
The Tritons will continue their home schedule with games against Chico State on Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m. and UC Davis on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Coming off the win over the No. 2-rated team in the nation, Armstrong does not want the Tritons, who now lead the CCAA South, to get overconfident and overlook any of their upcoming opponents.
“”This was just a win,”” Armstrong said. “”We have to go out and get the next one.””
