OREM, Utah – Will Wiersdorf delivered the second half equalizer and Carter Tseu made a penalty kick save as Santa Clara men's soccer salvaged a 1-all draw against No. 16 Utah Valley on Saturday night at UCCU Stadium. The goal by Wiersdorf was the first given up by the Wolverines all season long, having entered the game as one of two teams in the nation to not concede a goal the whole season.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Wiersdorf scored in the 67th minute, picking up the loose ball in front of the goal and beating Kolby Sessions to the far post. Up until that moment, Utah Valley (6-0-1) had outscored their opponents 20-0 with Sessions making 17 saves on the year.
- The Wolverines jumped to an early lead in the seventh minute on Nil Grau's header. The 6-foot-4 forward found the back of the net off a corner kick from Keegan Oyler.
- Utah Valley held a 58 to 42-percent advantage in possession in the first half outshooting the Broncos eight to four.
- Santa Clara (3-2-4) stayed in the game and looked to be danger of falling behind further in the 51st minute when Utah Valley was awarded a penalty kick on a handball by Itamar Efrat inside the box. However, Carter Tseu, who came in to replace Jackson Ozburn at the start of the second half, made a save on Trevor Walk's penalty kick shot, diving to his left to get his hand on the low shot.
- Tseu's save gave the Broncos some needed energy with four of their nine shots coming after stopping the shot including Wiersdorf's goal. The sophomore goalkeeper was credited with two saves while Session also had a pair.
NOTABLE NUMBERS / GAME NOTES:
- The series remains tied at 1-1-1.
- Niv Berkovitz, the WCC's leading scorer, was a late scratch. Moises Almontes took his place in the starting XI.
HIGHLIGHTS:
POST-GAME COMMENTS:
Head Coach Cam Rast on Tseu's PK save and the affect it had on the game:
"Carter started the second half as we thought it would be a good chance for him to get some minutes and get him ready for conference in case we need him. On the save, he got a great jump and got down to make the save. When you make a save on a penalty kick, it deflates the attacking team and gives the defending team a lift. After that, we kept pressing and pressing. Gaby (Mazonas) had a really good look in the second half where he put it on frame and we just keep whittling away and made it tough on them. While we would've liked to have gotten another goal, I think the team grew up a little today as they fought back against a team that hadn't lost and hadn't been scored on so there were some good growth moments."
Rast on Wiersdorf's goal:
"The ball came from left to right and it looked like Baronyi left it and Will outworked the defender to get to the ball. It got tight with the angle but he was still able to put it on frame. It was a really good goal and he had alot of family here so I'm happy for him."
Rast on team's resolved after conceding an early goal:
"It was frustrating because one of the things we can control are the set pieces. We just didn't defend it well as we needed it to. The goal scorer is probably six inches taller than our defender and he did a good job sticking it in there. But we had to be stronger. The good thing is the guys regrouped and went after it in the second half. But it just was not enough to win the game."
NEXT UP:
- Santa Clara opens West Coast Conference play against San Diego at home on Saturday, Sept. 27 for a 7 p.m. PT kickoff. To purchase tickets, click here.
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