HAYWARD, Calif. - Mikel Samaniego tallied two scores as the UC San Diego men's soccer team held on for a 3-2 road victory over Cal State East Bay Friday afternoon.
CSUEB recorded a goal in the 88th minute to cut UCSD's lead to 3-2 but despite a Pioneers' shot hitting the post with seven seconds remaining in regulation, the Tritons were able to grab the win and avoid the overtime periods.
UCSD improves to 6-3-4 overall while pushing its league record to an even 3-3-3. CSUEB falls to 1-12 overall and 0-9 in conference play during the university's inaugural season in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Tritons and Pioneers return to La Jolla to play another match Sunday at 12 p.m.
Samaniego, a junior out of Seattle, Wash., scored the opening goal of Friday's match in the 21st minute. Pushing the ball up the left side of the field, Samaniego fired a shot low along the ground past CSUEB freshman goalkeeper Billy Morales from roughly 15 yards away.
Nearing the end of the first half that saw a combined 21 shots between the two squads, the Pioneers managed to tie up the score just 50 seconds before the match's midway point. CSUEB sophomore midfielder Manny Cardenas found the back of the net from about 12 yards out on the right side, pushing a shot past UCSD senior goalkeeper Peter Akman. Aric Johnson and Ryan Herriage earned the assists on the goal.
Junior midfielder David Bakal took back the lead for the Tritons in the 67th minute, tapping in a cross from teammate Shane Micheil at close range to net his second goal of the season and second in as many games.
UCSD earned a golden opportunity to push the advantage to 3-1 in the 83rd minute when they won a penalty kick after a CSUEB foul. Samaniego converted the attempt, giving the Tritons a more comfortable lead with roughly seven minutes to play.
The Pioneers' attack kept the pressure on though and rallied back for a score at the 87:30 mark with freshman defender Michael Rossi knocking in a shot past Akman from close range off of a rebound.
CSUEB managed three more shots between Rossi's score and the final buzzer, including a blast from sophomore forward Arnoldo Mendoza off the post with seven ticks left on the clock. The Tritons held on though and will look to repeat their success against the Pioneers when the squads play again Sunday on UCSD's home pitch.
Bakal and Samaniego combined for 12 of UCSD's 18 shots Friday and Akman earned the win in net, making four stops through the 90 minutes.
