WHITTIER, Calif. – The Alex Ortega era for the University of Redlands men's soccer program began Tuesday evening with a 1-1 draw at Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opponent Whittier College in what was a non-conference game.
The action started with new Bulldog goalkeeper Jaden Nisperos (San Diego, CA) making a fifth-minute save before each team traded a shot that missed the target.
The first look on goal for Redlands came in the 29th minute when Landon Azavedo (Lake Oswego, OR) had his attempt saved. That was one of four unanswered looks by the Bulldogs over the final nine minutes of the half as both teams went into the break scoreless.
After holding the shot attempt advantage in the first half, Redlands continued that momentum in the second turning their first look into a goal in the 52nd minute.
The opportunity came when Anders Beckton (Seattle, WA) drew a foul a few yards outside the penalty area on the left side. He then took the free kick and off the punch by the keeper, Colby Anger (San Jose, CA) deflected the rebound right back into the goal for his first tally of his career.
Whittier responded, however, recording four unanswered attempts with Nisperos making his second save of the game in the 68th minute.
Zach Darmanyan (San Diego, CA) then had a shot saved in the 75th and two Poet looks missed the goal in the 78th and 80th minutes before a pair of yellow cards, both given to the Bulldogs, were handed out in the 83rd.
The free kick from the yellow card allowed Whittier to tie the game on a set piece of their own. The in-swinging ball came in from a lefty. Nisperos came off his line but could not get a hand to the ball allowing a Poet player to capitalize off the open goal and equalize the game at one.
Azavedo had his shot go wide right in the 88th minute with what was the final scoring opportunity for either side.
For the game Whittier held a slight advantage on shots (10-9), shots on goal (4-3) and corner kicks (4-3).
Redlands will be back in action this Thursday at 4 p.m. at San Bernardino Valley College when they host Nelson University (Arizona).
