The Cal Poly men’s soccer team played Cal State Northridge to an exciting double-overtime draw, 1-1 Friday night in front of a healthy and boisterous crowd at the Sports Complex.
The Mustangs’ record now stands at 2-4-3 overall and they now move on to San Jose State before returning to conference play at UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Matadors fell to 2-3-4 overall.
The Matadors, who finished 2005 with an impressive 8-1-1 Big West Conference record, picked up the lead early on a throw-in that was headed in by senior Derek Hanks in the fourth minute.
Several freshman played key roles in the tie, as Brian Jones, Boomer Cruz, Jose Garcia and Jeremy Cleveland played well.
In the 85th minute, freshman Andrew “Boomer” Cruz scored on a a rebound after a solid flurry and a cross by the Cal Poly attack. It was Boomer’s first college goal.
“We played Boomer in the middle tonight for the first time and he responded with some terrific ball winning and a lot of energy,” first-year Cal Poly head coach Paul Holocher said. “Cal State Northridge is a terrific team with some dangerous attacking players. I was proud of how our team defended as a unit and they showed character in coming back from 0-1 down. We are learning a little more each game.”