SAN DIEGO – Competing in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, the San Diego men's soccer team (13-3-3, 7-1-1 WCC) came up short in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Grand Canyon (14-3-5, 3-1-3 WAC) by a 2-1 final score on Sunday evening at Torero Stadium.
Iain Wagner bagged his ninth goal of the season as the Toreros equalized after an early Lopes goal. GCU would respond late in the second half as they netted the game winner in the 88th minute of play on Sunday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Getting the action started, USD was able to get out on the front foot and earned a corner kick 30 seconds into the match which set up a Noah James shot that was off target.
- In the fourth minute, Devin Zachry stole the ball off the GCU striker in the opponent's third of the half, laying it off to James who narrowly missed the goal on a cross-body shot.
- On the Lopes' first shot of the game in the sixth minute, a bouncing ball from a corner kick made its way into the penalty box and landed at the feet of the GCU forward who shot a low driven goal just outside the eight-yard box.
- In the 27th minute, Wagner hit a long ball to the line in the penalty box where Bahena headed a ball to barely keep it within the goalkeeper's reach and was caught looking as the ball skimmed the front of the goal.
- After Taj Eagleston ripped a shot in the 30th minute, a minute later he fed a cross to Steven Ramirez who headed a shot to the top right corner of the goal forcing a save.
- A spell of possession in the GCU half of the field in the 35th minute almost allowed USD to break through when Luca Fava laid in a curling left-footed cross to Ramirez who narrowly missed over the crossbar.
- Starting off the second half, the Toreros continued to dominate possession and in the 51st minute, Eagleston played a behind the back pass layoff to Jaxson Findlay who rocketed a shot just off target to the top of the goal.
- San Diego continued to keep possession of the ball in the GCU half, amassing six shots in the second half up until Bahena put a cross into Findlay that forced a save that Wagner then finished off in the 66th minute to put the game level at 1-1.
- Owen Walz and Simon Duus Muller fortified the back line after the goal, making crucial blocks on the defensive end midway through the second half.
- Late in the match, a through ball from the left side of the field bounced off a fallen Torero defender that was played into the path of the GCU striker who chipped it over the goalie to make it 2-1 GCU in the 88th minute.
- San Diego attempted to generate some more late magic, but couldn't find the back of the net as the match ended in a 2-1 Lopes win.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Wagner wrapped his phenomenal sophomore campaign by scoring his ninth goal of the season to lead USD and even the score.
- Findlay checked into the game at the start of the second half and instantly made his presence felt by putting up two shots and assisting the game-tying goal in his first appearance in over a month.
- Playing a massive role off of the team's bench, Duus Muller totaled 82 strong minutes after Josh Martinez had to leave the match early in the first half.
- The Toreros out shot the Lopes 16 shots to six, continuing their streak of out-shooting opponents in the NCAA tournament now in their last three postseason matches coming off the win at Duke and last season's loss against Vermont.
POST MATCH WITH THE TOREROS
