Box Score I Video Highlights I Photos
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Down a man, the San Diego Toreros scored the game-winner in the 69th minute to hand No. 16 Portland a 2-1 defeat in a West Coast Conference men’s soccer game on Friday night at Merlo Field, ending the Pilots eight-game unbeaten streak. It’s Portland’s first loss since the opening game of the season.
USD (6-3-0, 2-0-0 West Coast Conference) played with 10 men after Tim Grey was shown a red card in the 51st minute with the Toreros leading 1-0. Grey, a defender, was issued the card when he intentionally knocked down a Portland shot with his arm inside the 18-yard box.
Portland (6-2-2, 1-1-1 WCC) was awarded a penalty kick, which senior Collen Warner converted to tie the score at 1-1.
After Portland dominated possession up to that point, the shorthanded Toreros then stepped up the pressure and got several good looks on goal, culminating with Marcelo Carminatti’s game-winner. Carminatti gained possession outside the box, turned to his right and buried a shot into the top-left corner of the net from 25 yards out to give USD a 2-1 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
The Pilots finished with 19 shots on the night, while the Toreros came in with 12. Portland also held a sizable 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.
The first 45 minutes were mostly played in Portland’s half of the field, but it was San Diego who took a 1-nil lead into the locker room at halftime. In the 26th minute, Patrick Wallen fed Stephen Posa outside the 18-yard box. Posa took a couple of touches before cracking a shot towards the left post. UP junior goalkeeper Austin Guerrero was able to get a glove on it before it settled into the back of the net.
In the 30th minute, Portland freshman Ricardo Carrillo nearly equalized when he found himself behind the San Diego defense in a one-v-one opportunity with USD keeper Kelin Briones. After Jarad vanSchaik fed Carrillo with a perfectly placed through ball, Briones came well off his line to challenge and was able to knock down the shot, 15 yards in front of the net.
The Pilots then nearly scored with just three seconds showing on the clock in the first half, but vanSchaik’s shot off of a corner kick was high of the crossbar.
Portland then appeared to tie the game at 1-1 barely a couple of minutes into the second half. Senior Logan Emory knocked in a shot off a free kick from Warner, but the goal was waved off because of a foul called on the Pilots.
Warner later took a shot on a free kick from 35 yards out that grazed the outside of the left post, resulting in a goal kick for the Toreros.
Guerrero finished with two saves on the night, while Briones countered with five.
Portland will next face the Loyola Marymount Lions at Merlo Field at Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The Lions are coming off a 2-1 loss in overtime at Gonzaga on Friday night.
