By Alex Guzman – Spear Reporter I Sophomore midfielder Fernando Duarte, junior forward Jordi Tortell Daly, junior midfielder Diego Nieves and junior forward Angel Gutierrez lined up during warmups before the Spartans’ 2-2 draw against the University of the Pacific. (Photo by Marco Munoz – Spear photographer)
San Jose State men’s soccer (3-3-1) picked up its third nonconference play win with a 1-0 road victory against California State University, Northridge (3-3-1) on Thursday night.
The previous matchup between SJSU and CSUN ended in a scoreless draw. Any memory of last season’s stalemate was completely overshadowed by Thursday night’s exciting victory.
After a VAR check in the fifth minute, SJSU sophomore midfielder Fernando Duarte was awarded a penalty kick following a handball by CSUN senior forward Kayvon Monfared.
Duarte calmly took a few steps back and let the ball breeze down the bottom right, past CSUN senior goalkeeper Dorian Drucks, scoring his first career goal.
Senior goalkeeper Ronin Axelson recorded 8 saves by the end of the second half, setting a new career high.
“Every game [Ronin] keeps improving,” SJSU interim head coach Jesus Sanchez said. “I’m happy for the team, I’m happy for Ronin.”
Axelson continued to command the box as pressure on the SJSU defense ramped up in the second half. However, Axelson was prepared for all moments to come, even earning his first shutout of the season.
In the 57th minute, CSUN freshman forward Adrian Jones took a shot on target that was saved by Axelson.
Axelson spotted the fast-flying ball through his teammates and countered with a dive to stop the Matador attempt.
By the second half, tension between the teams grew on the field as several yellow cards were being handed out.
In the 64th minute, junior forward Jordi Tortell Daly faced off against CSUN junior defender Dominik Wicks and exchanged headbutts.
After a VAR check, Wicks received his second yellow card and was immediately ejected from the game because of the altercation, forcing CSUN to play with 10 players for the rest of the match.
Daly earned his second yellow card in the 79th minute and subsequent immediate ejection from the rest of the game.
This victory makes this the team’s ninth win in the series for SJSU men’s Soccer.
With SJSU entering conference play as co-favorites in the Mountain West preseason coaches’ poll, Sanchez said the goal is simple.
“Try and leave this road trip with two wins,” Sanchez said.
SJSU next faces Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif.
