Via goredlands.com
Photo by Alan Barcenas
Senior Anders Beckton, shown here in a home game last fall, scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute against the run of play, sealing the upset over No. 2 Trinity.
AZUSA — The Alex Ortega era secured its first marquee victory Sunday as the University of Redlands men's soccer team upset reigning national runner-up and preseason No. 2 Trinity University (Texas), 2-1, at Azusa Pacific University's Cougar Soccer Complex.
In a match defined by two distinct halves, senior Anders Beckton of Seattle scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to lift the unbeaten Bulldogs (2-0-1) past the Tigers (1-2) in Redlands' final home contest away from Farquhar Field.
Junior goalkeeper Jaden Nisperos of San Diego recorded his first save of the match in the 10th minute before Redlands converted its first shot on target into an early lead. Graduate student Landon Azavedo of Lake Oswego, Oregon, delivered a 21st-minute corner kick to senior Bo Robertson of Portland, Oregon, who buried his first goal of the season past Trinity senior goalkeeper Jayden Schell to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
Redlands controlled the remainder of the opening half, generating the final five offensive looks. Freshman Garrett Colley of Danville, California, and Beckton forced Schell into saves in the 31st and 33rd minutes, while subsequent attempts by Colley and Azavedo were saved and blocked.
Trinity responded aggressively after the break, controlling momentum and recording seven unanswered shot attempts. The Tigers equalized in the 56th minute before Nisperos made two crucial saves to keep the match tied 1-1.
After surviving two Trinity attempts in the 86th minute, Redlands countered against the run of play. Senior Zachary Darmanyan of San Diego set up Beckton, who beat Schell in the 87th minute to seal the upset.
The teams combined for 24 shots, 10 shots on goal, 13 corner kicks, and 27 fouls. Nisperos finished with three saves for Redlands, while Schell recorded three saves for Trinity.
Next up
Redlands hosts No. 4 Emory University at Farquhar Field on Friday at 4 p.m., seeking its second victory over a top-five opponent in five days.