Carlos Puma
2
Winner UC Riverside UCR (6-10-1, 2-6-0 BWC)
1
Cal State Fullerton CSF (9-7-1, 4-3-1 BWC)
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
(6-10-1, 2-6-0 BWC)
2
Final
1
Cal State Fullerton CSF
(9-7-1, 4-3-1 BWC)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
UC Riverside UCR 0 1 1 2
Cal State Fullerton CSF 0 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Copley's Header With 10 Seconds Left In Regulation, Miguel's OT Score Keep Men's Soccer Playoff Hopes Alive

Fullerton, CA—The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team's hopes for a trip to the Big West Tournament were 10 seconds away from ending Saturday evening, but Stephen Copley's header with time running down tied the score, and Tyler Miguel's PK in the first overtime period gave the Highlanders a 2-1 victory, keeping their postseason dreams alive (watch all three goals).

The win kept UCR four points behind CSUN and UC Irvine following the Anteaters' 2-0 decision over the Matadors Saturday night. With two matches to play, UC Riverside needs to win both—a Wednesday, October 28 road trip to CSUN at 7 pm PT, and a Saturday, October 31 home match against the Titans—and get some help, to earn either the two or three seed from the South Division.
 
South Division
TeamWLTPts
Cal State Fullerton43113
CSUN34110
UC Irvine34110
UC Riverside2606

It was a defensive battle in the first half as the teams combined for seven shots, only one of which—Michael Salazar's attempt in the 41st minute—was on goal.

The Titans broke the tie in the 54th minute on a goal by Diego Sanchez. Fullerton clamped down on defense the rest of the way, holding UC Riverside without a shot on goal for nearly the entire second half.

The match was physical with 24 fouls and 11 cards getting handed out, but that played into the Highlanders favor down the stretch With one minute and 11 seconds left in regulation, Fullerton's Ronaldo Pineda was whistled for a red card, allowing UC Riverside to play a man up for the final 71 seconds. The Highlanders took advantage, as Copley got his head on a Norberto Ochoa cross with ten ticks left on the clock to tie the score.

The physical nature of the match reared its head again early in overtime when the Titans' Carlos Troncoso pulled down one of the Highlanders in the Fullerton box, setting up a potential game-winning PK. Tyler Miguel struck the ball past Cal State Fullerton's keeper, and was mobbed by his teammates as they rushed the field.

The Highlanders have two matches remaining on their schedule: a Wednesday, October 28 road trip to CSUN at 7 pm PT, and a Saturday, October 31 home match against the Titans where they will celebrate the careers of their senior class.