Toreros improve to 5-0
Men’s soccer is off to their best start in 17 years after 1-0 victory over UC Davis
Maria Watters / Assistant Sports Editor / The USD Vista
Two undefeated programs clashed at Torero Stadium last Friday night with the University of San Diego Toreros defeating the UC Davis Aggies 1-0 in a nail-biting finish.
Both teams entered the match having conceded zero losses so far, with the Aggies at 3-0-1 on the season and the Toreros at an impressive 4-0. UC Davis sought to be the first team to score against the formidable goaltending of redshirt sophomore Matt Wiher — who was named West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Week for his outstanding three game shutout streak — while the Toreros fought to defend their unbeaten 4-0 home winning record.
Hundreds of fans buzzed with anticipation as the opening kickoff started the match. The first half began with both teams carefully feeling out their opponent, exchanging minor fouls on both sides. It was the Aggies’ senior midfielder Marte Formic who took the game’s first shot on goal in the 13th minute and again in the early 14th; both shots saved by Wiher. But the Aggies kept pressing, earning three corner kicks before USD could mount any offense of their own.
The Torero counterattack was foiled by a costly offsides call after their first corner kick of the game, and answered by an onslaught of offense from Davis. The blocked shot from the Aggies’ sophomore midfielder Connor Tipto was rebounded and shot over the crossbar by sophomore midfielder Andy Velasquez.
After surviving another wave of the Aggies’ attacks, USD got their first shot on goal taken by senior forward Miguel Berry in the 26th minute. Though it was saved by senior goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley, the play by Berry kickstarted the USD offense, resulting in a shot by sophomore forward Jacob Planell, and two Torero corner kicks.
The first half ended with back-to-back shots by the Aggies junior defender Jake Haupt, and Torero junior midfielder Ross Meldrum on the counterattack.
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the first 45 minutes, and both teams retreated to their respective benches. Though the first half was full of exciting plays and questionable calls by the referees that had the crowd vocally expressing their disagreement, the score remained tied at 0-0, and Torero fans couldn’t help but grow concerned as their team had been outshot five shots to three. And though Wiher kept the two Aggie shots from getting past him, one could only wonder how the Toreros would manage to pull out a victory with only one shot on goal.
But there was yet another 45 minutes left to be played, and both teams came out swinging.
The first strike came from USD junior midfielder Jimmy Ryan, but sailed high in the 47th minute, countered by the shot from Aggie sophomore midfielder Connor Tipton, going wide. It was his second of the night.
The intensity and physicality of the game increased as Torero senior defender Henry Lander received the first yellow card of the match just five minutes into the second half, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Shots and fouls were exchanged, every call contested by the energetic crowd. Neither team was willing to concede the first goal. Neither side was willing to back down.
Torero Stadium was reaching its boiling point. A yellow card on the Aggie junior defender, Jake Haupt, led to the shot by USD redshirt junior midfielder, George West, and subsequent save by Aggie goalkeeper Lapsley. Four more fouls against UC Davis, one resulting in a yellow card for Aggie sophomore defender Max Glasser, set up the Torero free kick just outside the penalty area.
The crowd roared and the bleachers shook as Miguel Berry lined up to take the kick. Silence rippled across the stands as fans of both teams collectively held their breath. But Berry was seemingly unfazed, and with the referee’s whistle sent the ball hurtling towards the goal. His picture perfect shot curled through the air, past Lansley, and into the back of the net.
With breath restored, Torero fans shot to their feet, the stadium rocking. They had waited 73 minutes for this moment and Berry undoubtedly delivered, giving the Toreros a 1-0 lead over the Aggies.
However, the game was far from over. Only up by a goal, the Torero defense would have to fend off the dangerous UC Davis offense for the rest of the game. The Toreros proved themselves up to the challenge, defending every Aggie attack, including a major save by Wiher late in the 76th minute that kept USD in the lead. The drama continued up to the very last second as the game concluded with a red card awarded to Aggie senior midfielder Marte Formico, in the 90th minute.
At the end of the night, despite outshooting the home team 10 shots to nine, the Aggies suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the still undefeated Toreros with a final score of 1-0. With outstanding defensive performances by Henry Lander, Aaron Frey, Chase Van Wey, and Aiden Marmion, Matt Wiher’s unbeatable goaltending, and the game-winning goal by Miguel Berry, the USD men’s soccer team proved victorious, earning their best start in 17 years.
At 5-0, the Toreros have established themselves as a formidable opponent and a force to be reckoned with, so to any challenger in the future they might say this: bring it on.