Oct. 27, 2010

Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Junior Phil Da Silva's goal in the 80th minute was not enough to overcome two earlier San Diego goals as #20 LMU dropped its first match in West Coast Conference play, 2-1, on Wednesday night at Torero Stadium in San Diego. Despite the setback, the Lions (9-4-2, 5-1-1 WCC) maintain their tie with idle Portland atop the conference standings with five matches remaining.

A 12-day layoff for the Lions and 10-day break for the Toreros (6-6-2, 3-3-1 WCC) had both teams itching to get back on the pitch for competitive action to start the second half of conference play. The Lions had the first good look of the match as senior Rafael Baca fired off a shot 15 minutes in that was saved by USD goalkeeper Michael D'Arrigo. In the 34th minute, freshman Christian Alvarado got his head on a free kick but his shot was straight into the hands of D'Arrigo.

James Cohn had the home side's best chance of the first half when he looped a header toward the LMU goal. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Max Young back-peddled and had the goal covered, although the ball bounced off the top of the bar and out of play. The game turned in a 10-minute span coming out of halftime. San Diego broke the 0-0 knot in the 53rd minute when it won a free kick near midfield. Dan Delgado sent a long ball to the far side of the penalty box, where Cory Norris rose up and connected on a header.

The Lions nearly drew level five minutes later through junior Fernando Barba. After a scramble in the box, the ball skirted out to Barba, who laced a powerful shot that beat D'Arrigo. The keeper and USD were saved by the woodwork, though, as the ball rattled the crossbar and came back out. Baca tried to follow with a quick shot but he could not keep his attempt from rising over the bar.

That play would prove crucial as USD doubled its advantage in the 62nd minute on a goal similar to the first. This time, it was Matthew Chavez who sent a long ball into the box. It fell to Stephen Posa, who finished from seven yards out for the 2-0 lead.

With almost half an hour still to play, the Lions had plenty of time for a comeback and would get halfway there in the 80th minute. A San Diego foul led to junior Logan McDaniel skipping through two defenders and bouncing a low shot that came back off the inside of the post. The ball rebounded across the line and Da Silva was quick to react, turning in his fourth goal of the year from an incredibly tight angle.

The last 10 minutes would be all about the Lions looking for the equalizer and the Toreros defending their lead. LMU won three corners and had five shots in the final throes but the USD defense charged down each attempt. With seven seconds left, LMU won another corner and sent everyone forward, including Young, who had improbably scored the game-tying goal at Santa Clara in a similar situation last time out. Unfortunately, time would not be on the Lions' side as the seconds ticked away before the kick could be taken, ending LMU's eight-match unbeaten run.

Young, making his first start of the season, made two saves for the Lions, who held a 14-11 shot advantage. D'Arrigo stopped three shots for the Toreros.

The Lions return to Sullivan Field on Sunday for a 2:30 p.m. kick-off against Santa Clara.