REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Soccer team (4-1-1) held a 1-0 lead against UC Santa Cruz for 62 minutes before the Banana Slugs scored to tie the game as the two sides split the points in a 1-1 draw at Farquhar Field Friday night.
UC Santa Cruz came out firing as they took the first seven shots of the game with two requiring saves from Brady Bachman (San Diego, CA) and another that hit the crossbar.
A couple of minutes after Anders Beckton (Seattle, WA) forced a save for the Bulldogs' first shot, Landon Azavedo (Portland, OR) scored in the 23rd minute. It came off a long throw from Owen Jamieson (Danville, CA) that was headed down by the defender where Azavedo was waiting before finishing through the defense making it 1-0.
Each side forced the other goalkeeper into a save opportunity the rest of the half as Redlands went into the break up 1-0.
The Banana Slugs got two early shots in the second half, but it was not until the 86th when they finally put one on framem which found the back of the net equalizing the game at 1-1.
On the play a great through ball was sent forward by UCSC and substitute keeper Jason Salmeron (Winnetka, CA) came out attempting to clear it at the top of the box, but the deflection fell to the feet of a Banana Slug who chipped it over the last defender from outside the box into a wide-open goal.
Two minutes later the Banana Slugs thought they had the game-winner but Taylor Bell (Highland, CA) saved a ball off the line as the Bulldogs managed to avoid the loss.
Redlands was outshot 15-6 with only four shots being on goal. They had five corner kicks and saw Azavedo and Alexander Salzetti (Tacoma, WA) each add two shots.
Things do not get any easier as the Bulldogs return to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action with a road trip to Claremont where they faceoff with No. 14 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7:00 p.m. next Wednesday, September 25.
