Nov. 18, 2002
Los Angeles, Calif., - Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 - The No.18 Loyola Marymount University men's soccer team has been selected to the 48-team NCAA College Cup Tournament. The Lions (14-3-2/4-2-0 West Coast Conference) are set to face Cal State Northridge (14-4-2/7-2-1 Big West) in the opening round of the postseason tournament. The match will take place this Saturday at 12 p.m. on Sullivan Field on the Loyola Marymount campus.
The Lions are making their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance after being selected to the field in 2001. LMU made an early exit of last year's tournament dropping a 3-2 double overtime decision to UCLA in the first round.
Earlier this season, the then-ranked No.17 Lions played to a 1-1 double overtime tie with the Cal State Northridge Matadors on Sept. 19 at Sullivan Field. Lion senior Andres Murriagui scored the game-tying goal in the 59th minute.
The first half was an evenly played contest as both LMU and CSUN each recorded four shots. Both goalkeepers, freshman Robert Flores for LMU and Joe Barton for CSUN, collected three saves in the first period of play and did not allow a goal.
The scoreless tie was broken in the second half (52:45) when Northridge's Yossi Raz took a pass from Edwin Miranda and chipped LMU keeper Flores for the score. The Matadors enjoyed the lead for all of seven minutes before the Lions would come back to tie things up.
Murriagui netted his second goal in as many games off a pass from freshman Brian Vestal. Murriagui's goal at 59:27 on the clock came as he found an open right side of the net with Matadors' keeper Barton out of position.
LMU dominated both overtime periods drawing four of their five corner kicks in the extra periods and outshooting the Matadors 5-1. Senior Philip Arias nearly ended things in the first extra period when he took a hard shot at the goal that was blocked by defender.
UCLA (13-3-3 Overall/8-2-0 Pacific-10) received a first round bye and awaits the winner of the Loyola Marymount/Cal State Northridge Round 1 match-up. The Bruins will host second round action on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Frank W. Marshall Field on the Bruin campus.
Tickets for Saturday's first round event at Sullivan Field can be purchased by calling the LMU ticket office at (310) 338-LION. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for students, children and seniors. The LMU ticket office is open Monday-Friday 12-6 p.m.
-GO LIONS-
