Adrian Medina Dribbling 2019 LMU
1
Grand Canyon GCU (3-2-1, 0-0-0)
1
UC Riverside UCR (5-1-2, 0-0-0)
Grand Canyon GCU
(3-2-1, 0-0-0)
1
Final
1
UC Riverside UCR
(5-1-2, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 F
Grand Canyon GCU 1 0 0 0 1
UC Riverside UCR 0 1 0 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Highlanders Strike Late to Earn 1-1 Tie

RIVERSIDE—Despite being down a man for the final 31 minutes, the UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team (5-1-2) managed to hold on and earn a 1-1 tie Sunday night. Visiting Grand Canyon (3-2-1) would strike in the third minute of the match but the Highlander defense would proceed to hold the Lopes scoreless for the next 107 minutes. Sophomore Caio Guazzelli's goal in the 69th minute proved to be the equalizer as UCR protected its unbeaten record at home.

"Our mental strength and character is amazing," Head Coach Tim Cupello said. "I am extremely proud of how they responded to both of those situations. Obviously you don't want to give up an early goal, you don't want to go down a man, but its very easy to pack it in when those things occur, and our guys responded to both."

On just their second possession the Lopes capitalized on an early opportunity scoring just two minutes and 18 seconds in as Tosh Yasuda punched in a goal after getting behind the Highlander back line. It would be just the third goal allowed at home by the Highlanders in six matches.

From there the Highlander defense was ignited and led by senior keeper Edwyn Gutierrez who grabbed six saves on the night. The second year starter allowed just one goal in 220 minutes this week posting 15 saves after a career night on Friday.

After trailing for most of the match senior Roberto Garcia-Vargas played a perfect ball into fellow senior Olli Pirinen, who dished to an open Guazzelli for the tap in, in the 69th minute.

"I may have scored the goal, but this is all about the team," Guazzelli said. "It was perfect cross and an incredible assist and I was able to put in the shot. That's why this team is amazing, the energy is amazing."

With an important overtime period in sight, the Highlanders were forced to play with just 10 as a result of freshman Matthew Mitiku earning a red card in the 79th minute. The team's first experience with the disadvantage this season.

"We are not just teammates, we are friends, we are family," Guazzelli said. "When we went down a man, we pulled close like a family and gave it everything we had."

Both teams remained scoreless for the remainder of the match giving UCR its second straight draw.

The Highlanders will now prepare for San Diego to cap off their five match home stand on Friday, September 27th.