Oct. 25, 2009
Box Score Click here to listen to Coach Krumpe's postgame interview.
LOS ANGELES - Three days after handing #19 San Diego its first West Coast Conference loss of the season, LMU found itself on the other end of the scoreline as the Toreros exacted revenge with a 4-1 victory on Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field. Junior Rafael Baca scored his league-leading ninth goal of the season but it was not enough as the Lions (7-7-1, 2-4-1 WCC) split the home-and-home series with the first place Toreros (10-4-0, 6-1-0 WCC).
Coming off its 2-1 overtime victory in San Diego on Thursday night, LMU was looking to make it two in a row and kick-start the second half of conference play. Instead, it was the Toreros who showed why they lead the WCC by scoring the most goals by an LMU opponent this season.
The first half saw the visitors come out aggressive, registering the game's first five shots. LMU would soon settle down, however, and out-shot USD 6-2 over the next 20 minutes. Sophomore Logan McDaniel had two of those shots, first forcing a save out of Kelin Briones and then shooting high.
LMU sophomore goalie Jack McCormack was called into action for two excellent saves in the first half to keep the game scoreless. In the 20th minute, San Diego put together a move on the left and after a cross and dummy-run, Patrick Wallen found himself alone in the box. His shot from eight yards sent McCormack the wrong way but the keeper was able to put his feet on the ball to keep it out of the net. Ten minutes later, Andrew Feld broke through on the right side but McCormack stretched himself to the left to turn the ball around the side for a corner.
USD would break through in the 34th minute when Dan Delgado's shot from 20 yards navigated through a crowded penalty area and beat McCormack at the far post. The Toreros would take the 1-0 lead into the half.
The second half was a much more lively affair as the game opened up wih four goals in a 14-minute span. USD doubled its lead five minutes into the half when Wallen penetrated the penalty area and had his shot smothered by McCormack. The ball popped straight out to Wallen, who centered it to Feld to knock home.
Undeterred by the two-goal deficit, LMU pushed forward knowing that a goal could turn the momentum back in its favor. Freshman Chris Bernardi tried a long-range effort that was saved by Briones and then senior William Johnson rose up for a header off a corner but could not direct it anywhere but into the keeper's hands.
The game would be decided with three goals in three minutes. Unfortunately for LMU, two of those goals would come from the Toreros. Feld netted his second on the hour mark when Ryan Peterman slotted a pass through the left side to Wallen, who crossed to Feld for the finish. Not even a minute later, the Lions would be on the board.
Straight from the kick-off, LMU advanced into the San Diego penalty box. Sophomore Phil Da Silva slipped his defender and was brought down, with the ref immediately pointing to the spot. Up stepped Baca, who finished high into the roof of the net for his ninth goal of the season. The nine goals put him in a tie for fourth on the LMU single-season record list while he also moved into sixth place on the career record chart with his 16th in three season.
Whatever momentum LMU gained from the PK was gone two minutes later when Wallen finished off a pass from Cory Norris with a curling shot into the bottom right corner from 18 yards.
San Diego held a 17-13 shot advantage in the contest. McCormack made three saves in 69:33 of action before being relieved by senior Patrick Sampson, who did not make a save in the final 20 minutes. Briones stopped four shots for the Toreros.
LMU heads back on the road next week for a single match at San Francisco on Sunday at 2 p.m.
