MERCED, Calif. - In a gritty performance on Saturday night, the Jessup University men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 tie against UC Merced, snapping a seven-game losing streak. The tie is the first for the Warriors since October 13, 2017, and marks a hard-fought turnaround for a team that has historically struggled against the Bobcats, holding a 2-7-2 record in the all-time series and now 1-2-2 on the season headed into conference play.
Jessup head coach
Greg Lazaga acknowledged the team's slow start but praised their resilience. "We started the game slow to respond and passive in decision making," Lazaga said. "It turned around for us when we were aggressive in making decisions. Merced is a traditionally tough place to play, so I'm really proud of our guys for fighting back."
Jessup's hard-earned tie was a testament to their resilience, especially after falling behind early. UC Merced's Christian Khanishian opened the scoring just 16 minutes into the match, but the Warriors responded swiftly. Jessup's offense, which had six shots on goal compared to UC Merced's three, was relentless, and it paid off in the 38th minute when
Luis Cruz headed in a goal off a corner kick from
Mateo Barth.
The second half was a defensive battle, with neither team able to find the back of the net, solidifying the 1-1 final score. Jessup outshot UC Merced in the second half, and also held an advantage in shots on goal, a stark difference from the first half where the Bobcats had the upper hand.
Jessup will face a familiar foe in the HPU Sharks to open its conference schedule with a home match against the Hawaii Pacific University Sharks. The contest, which marks the start of PacWest Conference play for both squads, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, at 4:30 p.m. PDT at Warrior Field. This matchup will be the first of a two-game homestand for Jessup, who will host the University of Hawaii at Hilo on Monday, September 29. The Warriors will be looking to get off to a strong start in conference play as they continue to make their mark in their second year in the PacWest.
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Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
