LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 20th-ranked UC San Diego men's soccer team evened the score up at one apiece early on in the second half but gave up a late goal in its 2-1 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday night at Triton Soccer Field. With the loss the Tritons fall to 10-4-1 overall and 7-4-1 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play while the Toros improve to 13-3-2 overall and 7-3-2 in league action.
Things got off to an inauspicious start for the Toros as midfielder Jesse Graham got a yellow card in the 20th minute for arguing with the official and would get a second yellow card in the 37th minute on a hard tackle. The second yellow card resulted in a red card and Graham's ejection, meaning CSUDH would have to play a man down the remainder of the contest.
Despite the ejection, the Toros kept the pressure on in the first half, out-shooting the Tritons by a 7-5 margin. That pressure paid off at the 41:34 mark when Sammy Rivas sent a corner kick in that made its way through to the other side where Carmelo Terranova slid it past UCSD netminder Edward Ruhland for a 1-0 lead. The goal was Terranova's fourth of the year.
After intermission, UCSD went on the offensive, out-shooting the Toros by an 11-4 margin in the second half. The Tritons capitalized on an opportunity in the 57th minute when Grant Nishio headed the ball past CSUDH goalkeeper Kyle Polak off a pass from Tom Caplan. The goal was Nishio's fifth of the season.
UCSD kept the pressure on, forcing Polak to make big save after big save. He ended the match with nine saves, six of which came in the second half.
CSUDH got the game-winner in the 83rd minute as Kei Kamara took a long pass from Nick Ripetto and beat Ruhland who was out of position to put the Toros up 2-1. The goal was Kamara's 12th of the year, which leads the CCAA.
While the loss was UCSD's first at home this season, it also moves the Tritons into second place in the CCAA South Division, one point behind the Toros with two matches remaining in the regular season.
UCSD returns to action on Wednesday, October 26, traveling to Cal State San Bernardino for a 1:30 p.m. match. The Tritons will conclude their 2005 regular season on Saturday, October 29 by hosting Cal State L.A. at 4:30 p.m.
