UCLA
8-4-0, 4-1-0
San Diego State
5-6-1, 1-4-0
Men's Soccer Downs SDSU 2-1 in OT
October 13, 2018 | Men's Soccer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The No. 21-ranked UCLA men's soccer team took over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 on Saturday night with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win over San Diego State at the SDSU Sports Deck.
The Bruins (8-4, 4-1 Pac-12) looked like they would take the result in regulation after freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya scored 33 seconds into the second half, but SDSU (5-6-1, 1-4-0) equalized in the 72nd minute to send the contest to overtime.
UCLA ended up finding the back of the net with the first shot of the overtime period, as Joab Santoyo got deep in SDSU territory and sent a cross into the box, where freshman midfielder Cody Sundquist got a foot on it and sent it into the net for the golden goal and the first score of his career.
Saturday's game represented UCLA first's overtime contest of the year, the latest into the season that the Bruins reached OT for the first time since 2003. UCLA has now won a season-best three straight games.
"It was a great goal from Cody and fitting because he's been a really good team player," said UCLA head coach Jorge Salcedo. "Sometimes when they don't play, student-athletes feel like they're not contributing but that hasn't been the case with Cody. He's been a huge addition to the program and a really selfless teammate. The guys were so excited for him, and you could tell by the way they celebrated with him and dogpiled. It's a fantastic feeling for him and the team."
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Amaya put the Bruins in the driver's seat with his second goal of the season less than a minute into the second half.
Amaya chased down a ball in the box, then got his foot under the ball and chipped it over a charging Max Watkin, SDSU's goalie.
SDSU ended up knotting the scoreline before regulation was over, as Adam Vargas collected a long pass from Chad Morgan on the right side of the box in the 72nd minute, settling the ball and then shooting inside the near post for the game-tying tally.
UCLA held the Aztecs to just three shots over the first 45 minutes, the 11th time in 12 games that the Bruins held the opponent scoreless in the first half this season.
The two teams ended the contest tied in shots, 9-9. Both keepers, Watkins and UCLA's Justin Garces, made a pair of saves.
Garces maintained the 1-1 scoreline in the 78th minute with the save of the game, as the freshman dove to his left to push aside a DJ Villegas shot from 30 yards out.
The Bruins don't return to action until next Saturday night, Oct. 20, hosting Loyola Marymount at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in the final non-conference regular season game of the year.
Team Stats
Amaya, Frankie (2)
chipped ball over charging GK
45:33
Vargas, Adam (1)
Assisted By: Morgan, Chad
received long pass on R wing and finishe
71:45
Sundquist, Cody (1)
Assisted By: Santoyo, Joab
low cross from right wing, slipped past
98:20
