San Diego Athletics

SAN DIEGO — Steven Ramirez scored twice in a span of 91 seconds and the University of San Diego men's soccer team answered a one-goal halftime deficit with three unanswered goals after the break, beating Liberty 3-1 on Sunday evening at Torero Stadium in the first meeting between the two programs.

The Toreros (2-0-0) controlled the run of play from the opening whistle and still went to the locker room trailing, outshooting the Flames 7-2 over the first 45 minutes without finding a finish.
"We didn't play well the first half, we tweaked a few things the second half, changed the personnel, came out with more energy and intensity, and got the goals that we deserved," head coach Brian Quinn said.

Liberty (1-1-0) opened the scoring in the 41st minute, when they carried the ball into the penalty area and finished a shot towards the inside of the far post.

San Diego needed nine minutes of the second half to level it. Captain centerback Mathias Bauer picked out Jaxson Findlay with a long ball down the right flank, and Findlay took one settling touch before crossing right-footed along the ground across the 6-yard box for Noah James to touch home left-footed in the 54th minute — his first goal of the season.

"We had a good answer in the second half," said Bauer, who finished with two assists on the night. "I'm very proud of the way the guys bounced back. That's what you need to do to win games."

Ramirez put the Toreros ahead for good in the 62nd minute, running onto a first-time pass from Bauer down the right side and beating the keeper to the upper corner from the right side of the box. Ninety-one seconds later he had his second of the night and of the season, timing his run on Iain Wagner's through ball before slipping a left-footed finish past the goalkeeper. San Diego was whistled offside four times in the first half and not once after halftime.

The Torero back line gave up little all evening. Liberty managed eight shots but placed only one on target. San Diego finished with a 16-8 edge in shots and 7-1 in shots on goal, with Ramirez (four shots, three on goal) and James (four shots, two on goal) leading the way.

UP NEXT
The Toreros will be back in action on Thursday when they travel up the coast and take on #9 Stanford in Palo Alto. Kickoff at Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium is set for 4 PM.