SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – #8 California State University San Bernardino men's soccer bounced back Friday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over Menlo College in the CCAA Game of the Week at Premier Field.
With the win, the Coyotes improved to 9-1-2 overall and 5-1-0 in CCAA play.
The Yotes came close to opening the scoring in the 17th minute when senior forward Rafa Fonseca sent a shot off the left post. CSUSB outshot Menlo 4-3 in the opening half, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, sending the match into halftime tied 0-0.
CSUSB wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second half. In the 49th minute, sophomore forward Nevin Rueegger received the ball with his back to goal and passed it off to sophomore forward Titus Alviso, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball to fifth-year midfielder Anthony Luna, leaving him one-on-one with the Menlo goalkeeper. Luna calmly finished low to the right to break the deadlock and give the Coyotes a 1-0 lead.
The Yotes doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when senior defender Andrew Alonso controlled the ball in the middle and connected with Alviso. Alviso once again played a perfectly timed pass, this time sending sophomore midfielder Diego Lopez one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Lopez finished low to the right to give CSUSB a 2-0 lead. The assist was Alviso's second of the afternoon and sixth of the season, moving him into the CCAA lead in assists.
Just over three minutes later, CSUSB struck again in the 67th minute. Senior defender Ty Kerns played a long ball from the back that found Fonseca behind the Menlo defense. Fonseca lifted his shot over the goalkeeper and into the net for his fourth goal of the season and a 3-0 CSUSB lead. The Oaks challenged the goal for a foul in the lead up, but after a video review, the call on the field stood and the goal was confirmed. In a span of just over 18 minutes, the Yotes found the back of the net three times to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
The Yotes outshot Menlo in both halves, holding a 4-3 advantage in the first and an 11-2 advantage in the second. CSUSB finished the afternoon with a 15-5 advantage in shots, including five on goal.
Senior goalkeeper Cody Lindeman played all 90 minutes and recorded three saves to earn his second shutout of the season. In limited action this season, Lindeman has made the most of his opportunities in goal, posting a 3-1 record in four appearances.
The Yotes entered Friday ranked fourth in NCAA Division II with a 0.455 team goals-against average. The shutout against Menlo marked CSUSB's seventh clean sheet through 12 matches this season.
Next up for the Yotes, CSUSB will remain at Premier Field to host Fresno Pacific on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 11 a.m. for Alumni Day.
