AZUSA, Calif. – For the first time since the opening game of the 2012 season, the Azusa Pacific men's soccer team played to a draw as they left the field with UC San Diego knotted at 1-1 on Thursday evening.
After 110 minutes of physical soccer each team scored on first half penalty kicks and that was all the scoring.
"UCSD is a very good team in the region. We knew it was going to be a tough night and I thought our guys to a good job after a week of training and responded well from our tough start to season. I'm really pleased with our effort on a difficult night," said Azusa Pacific head coach Dave Blomquist.
In the opening half each team took advantage of penalty kick opportunities. UC San Diego got the first chance. In the eighth minute Uly de la Cal converted the free shot on goal to give the Tritons an early advantage.
The Cougars got their penalty kick goal when Keenan Armbrust buried the ball past the Triton goal keeper, despite Cameron McElfresh's correct guess, tucked inside the left post. The opportunity was earned when Callum Wallace was fouled in the box in the 21st minute.
Throughout much of the second half each team tried to find their offensive rhythm but neither team could quite put together a quality scoring opportunity.
Nolan Mac nearly ended it early in the first extra session when his crossing ball bar hit right on top of the crossbar three minutes into the overtime. de la Cal also had a first overtime chance but his leftside blast from 20 yards went right into the waiting arms of Azusa Pacific goal keeper Tyler Jaramillo. Carlos Garcia-Partida had a header in the 98th minute inside of six yards go high for the Cougars.
The best chance in the second overtime was a run by Keenan Armbrust that resulted in a scrambling defensive effort by the Tritons which did enough to stave off his golden goal attempt late in the stanza
Despite an 0-2 start to the season the Cougars played with fire and energy which was helped by some line-up and position changes.
"I think that Kaleb and Keenan Armbrust did a great job out wide. They both have some much ability on either the right or left side of the field. I was also pleased with how Callum played. He's a bright player who maneuvers well."
Azusa Pacific gets back to action with another tough in-region game as they host Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 2 p.m.
