Sept. 26, 2010

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - For the third time in eight non-conference games, LMU found itself going to extra time when UC Riverside's Arnie Sanchez scored in the 83rd minute to cancel out junior Phil Da Silva's first-half strike as the teams played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday night at the UCR Soccer Stadium in Riverside, Calif. Da Silva scored for the second straight game for the Lions (4-3-1), who closed out their non-conference schedule.

LMU entered the contest having won the previous seven meetings with UCR (3-4-1), out-scoring the Highlanders 20-3 during that time. This year looked to be more of the same when Da Silva put the Lions ahead in the 37th minute.

Da Silva, who recorded the game-winning goal nine minutes after coming on as a sub in Thursday's win at Cal Poly, did it again Sunday, finding the net within his first nine minutes on the pitch. Da Silva entered the match in the 28th minute and put the Lions ahead just 8:38 later off an LMU corner. Barely 90 seconds after LMU had nearly taken the lead when senior Rafael Baca's shot was cleared off the line, his corner kick was not cleared by the UCR defense and junior Kyle Johanson played it back to Baca, giving him a chance to offer a second delivery. His cross was took a deflection straight to Da Silva, who volleyed it home for his third goal of the season and seventh of his career.

LMU held a 7-6 shot advantage at the break but could not muster a second goal as UCR turned up the pressure, finishing the contest with a 27-18 shot advantage. The Lions breathed a sigh of relief just before the hour when Juan Valladolid's header came back off the crossbar.

UCR's equalizer would also come as a result of a corner. Aaron Long had two headers that were blocked, resulting in a scramble in front of the goal. Sanchez got his foot out on it first, poking it in to pull the Highlanders level and force overtime.

As overtime got underway, the Lions looked to do what they had done twice previously: end the game quickly. LMU had played a combined 75 seconds in its two overtime games this game and freshman Connor Hunsicker nearly settled the matter when he was denied twice by UCR goalie Nick Goldreich within the first four minutes, sending the Lions into uncharted territory.

The dismissal of LMU junior Jonas Reiter with two quick yellow cards in the first overtime forced the Lions to hunker down. Even by playing with a man disadvantage, Hunsicker would have LMU's final chance of the game two minutes from the end in the second overtime but his header was stopped by Goldreich.

Junior Jack McCormack stopped six shots in Lion goal while Goldreich had eight saves for the Highlanders.

LMU opens up West Coast Conference play next weekend as its eight-match road trip comes to an end. The Lions visit San Francisco on Friday night before playing at Saint Mary's on Sunday.