Final Four competitors in 2012, the SFU men’s soccer team went without much contest last season, but 2013 has provided tougher competitors for the three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Champions. After dropping a greatly fought match to Seattle Pacific University in early October, the team saw another setback this past weekend tying the University of Mary Marauders 2-2 on the road.
The game started slow for both sides before a pass from keeper Brandon Watson missed its mark and was picked off by Mary striker Rory Pratt for the first goal of the evening. Both teams remained scoreless the rest of the period as the home side held the conference leading Clan to just six shots in the half.
The second period played out slowly, but SFU found momentum in the later stages, managing 11 shots in the second 45 minutes. It wasn’t until the 81st minute, however, that the Clan were able to find the back of the net as junior Joseph Martin put away a rebound after a scramble in the Mary box.
Martini’s goal seemed to be the break the Clan needed until a foul four minutes later allowed Mary to counter-attack and put themselves up by one once again. With only minutes left to respond, the Clan showed their level-headedness as Juan Sanchez was able to head in a Chris Bargholz cross to even the score. The match would head to double overtime but finished in a 2-2 draw.
Carlo Basso who earned his 100th career point with the Clan.
Eager to put the tie behind them the Clan rebounded two days later blasting the South Dakota School of Mines 7-0. The match saw a great effort from all team members, including All-American Carlo Basso who earned two goals and two assists in the game. Basso had been relatively quiet in the first half of the Clan’s season, but led his team to victory in South Dakota en route to earning his 100th career point with the Clan.
Other goals came from Jovan Blagojevic who added two, as well as Sanchez, Adam Staschuk and Colin Jacques. Jacques also had three assists while Sanchez added one of his own en route to being named the GNAC Red Lion Player of the Week.
Following the weekend’s trip, the Clan’s record moves to 11–1–1, and the tie-win combo sees the team drop one position in the National rankings to fourth. Seattle Pacific also moved to sixth in the NCAA Division II following their two-win weekend.
The Clan now return home for a four game swing that ends on Nov. 2 in what has become the most highly anticipated match of the season: the rematch against Seattle Pacific.
