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No. 17 men’s soccer defeats San Diego Toreros in overtime, 3-2

By Daniel Khayat

Sept. 19, 2010 6:41 p.m.

For the second time in as many weeks, the UCLA men’s soccer team needed extra time to defeat an unranked opponent. And again, they only needed a minimal amount of the overtime period to secure the win.

After playing Cal Poly (2-2-1) to a scoreless draw on Friday in front of a hostile crowd of 8,717, the 10th-biggest regular season crowd in NCAA men’s soccer history, the Bruins defeated the San Diego Toreros 3-2 at Drake Stadium on Sunday.

Sophomore forward Evan Raynr took advantage of a chance in the box in the 95th minute and ended the game on a high note for the No. 17 Bruins by turning with the ball and placing it into the far corner of the goal.

“It’s everybody’s dream to hit the game-winning goal, to be that guy that everyone jumps on at the end of the game,” Raynr said. “I always have that vision in the back of my head. It was everything that I was trying to have happen. It just landed for me perfectly, and I was on top of the world. It was amazing.”

A pair of freshmen scored the first two goals for the Bruins (4-1-1). Midfielder Kelyn Rowe equalized for UCLA seconds before halftime after a quick buildup that saw freshmen Patrick Matchett and Andrew Tusaazemajja pick up assists. Then, forward Victor Chavez put UCLA ahead in the 55th minute with a header from a cross by Rowe.

The Toreros (1-3-1), however, drew first blood and went ahead 13 minutes into the game on the first of senior forward Marcelo Carminatti’s two goals. His second, a magnificent overhead shot that sailed over UCLA redshirt junior goalkeeper Brian Rowe’s outstretched arms and into the net, came almost immediately after Chavez’s strike and leveled the match until Raynr put UCLA ahead for good.

After defeating UC Riverside 2-1 in overtime on Sept. 9, the Bruins’ close call against San Diego marks the second time in a span of ten days that they have come close to falling to inferior competition.

“We had our moments,” UCLA coach Jorge Salcedo said. “I think that it was a tough game physically. USD didn’t play Friday, and we played an overtime game at Cal Poly that was a really hard-fought match. I was really proud of the fact that we were able to pull a win out. We went down 1-0, then up 2-1, and we found a way to get the game-winning goal. It was a great result.”

The three goals the Bruins put up against San Diego were the most they have scored in a game all season. Rowe leads the Bruins in scoring with three on the year.

“The fact that we continue to find ways to score goals is something that I’m proud of,” Salcedo said. “I’m proud of the guys and their ability to take chances like they did today, but we still need to be better in front of goal. We had so many chances that if at the end of the day we do a better job, it makes it an easier game for us.”

Chavez, who scored the game-winner against UC Riverside, picked up an assist on Raynr’s clincher against the Toreros, and Chavez could not have been happier to help his teammate out.

“The excitement is for the whole team,” Chavez said. “All of us share that. It was a great win again, in overtime. It’s the sickest feeling.”

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