Oct. 9, 2011
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash.- The University of San Diego men's soccer team suffered their first West Coast Conference loss of the season with a 3-2 double overtime defeat at the hands of the Gonzaga Bulldogs Sunday afternoon in Spokane, Wash. The Toreros (5-5-1, 2-1-1 WCC) got goals from a pair of freshmen but were unable to contain the Bulldog (4-6-1, 2-2-0 WCC) offense late in the second half as Gonzaga mounted a comeback after trailing 2-0 up until the 77th minute.
Right before halftime, freshman forward Joey Dei Rossi notched his second goal of the season when he scored in the 42nd minute to put USD up 1-0. The Toreros had a free kick from the right side that was sent into the six-yard line where Dei Rossi was able to control it and fire it past Gonzaga keeper Jeff Renslo from close range. Juniors Conor McFadden and Dan Delgado were credited with assists on the play.
Up 1-0 coming out of halftime, the Toreros wasted no time in building on their lead when fellow freshman forward Sean Klauer connected for his second goal of the year as well. In the 47th minute, Delgado lifted a shot from the near side corner into the box where freshman Callum Whittaker headed it to Klauer who knocked it home from point blank range for the score.
USD's 2-0 lead would be cut in half in the 77th minute as Gonzaga's Clark Phillips scored the first of two goals on the day. Phillips cleaned up a rebound in the box after an initial Gonzaga shot was knocked around by the Torero defense. The goal put the tally at 2-1.
Gonzaga would even it up in the 81st minute when Phillips found the back of the net again after his shot was blocked and he picked up his own rebound for the unassisted score, tying the contest at 2-2.
The Toreros would force overtime however and battled the Bulldogs to a scoreless first overtime period. Gonzaga would waste no time in the second overtime frame as Nathanael Pacheco took a touch pass from Alec Cutter and fired a shot that bounced off the post and in for the game-winner in the 101st minute of play.
This was USD's third overtime match of the season and their second loss in overtime matches this year.
The Toreros held a 19-15 edge in shots in the high-powered offensive shootout, their second-highest shot total in a match this season.
Redshirt sophomore Michael D'Arrigo got the start in goal for the Toreros for the first time this season after recovering from an injury. He was the third Torero to start in goal for USD this year and recorded four saves while taking the loss.
Gonzaga's Renslo earned his first win of the year to improve to 1-0-0 after taking over for starter Ryan Caballero in the second half. Renslo tallied a pair of saves, while Caballero had three saves of his own before leaving the game.
The Toreros continue WCC play when they return home on Friday, Oct. 14th for a 7:00 pm contest with San Francisco from Torero Stadium.
