Bulldogs Unload Four Unanswered Goals to Down Kingsmen Ahead of SCIAC Clash

Via goredlands.com

REDLANDS — Following a stretch of seven games in which neither team scored more than two goals, the University of Redlands men's soccer team flexed its offensive muscle Wednesday evening, using a 4-0 scoring run to dispatch California Lutheran University 4-2 at Farquhar Field.

Photo by Angel Escatel Martinez

Senior Zachary Darmanyan (No. 10, at right) was the undisputed star of the match, having a hand in three of the Bulldogs' four unanswered goals. He scored the game-tying goal, assisted the game-winner, and drew and converted the insurance penalty kick—all within a six-minute span in the second half.

Beckton Sparks the Comeback

Redlands (6-1-3, 3-0-1 SCIAC) found itself facing a 2-0 deficit in the final minute of the opening half before senior Anders Beckton (Seattle) provided a vital spark off the bench. Pressing the Kingsmen's backline, Beckton forced a turnover, stole the ball, and finished past the oncoming goalkeeper with 30 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 2-1 heading into halftime.

Second-Half Explosion

The momentum carried directly into the second half, where the Bulldogs struck three times in less than six minutes.

In the 51st minute, senior Bo Robertson (Portland, Ore.) cleared a ball deep into Cal Lutheran territory. After a Kingsmen defender misplayed the bounce off his chest, senior Zachary Darmanyan (San Diego) pounced on the loose ball and slotted it into the right corner of the net to tie the match at 2-2.

Just over two minutes later, Redlands took its first lead of the night. Darmanyan cut back around the top of the penalty box before sliding a pass to the left wing, where an unmarked Jared Keyvan (Costa Mesa) picked out the right corner of the goal to put the Bulldogs ahead 3-3.

Darmanyan put the game out of reach in the 57th minute. After receiving a pass in the box off a free kick, he was brought down by the Cal Lutheran goalkeeper to earn Redlands' first penalty kick of the season. Darmanyan stepped up and struck his right-footed attempt just past the diving keeper to cap a four-point performance (two goals, one assist).

Closing It Out

Outside of two saves from junior goalkeeper Jaden Nisperos (San Diego), the Bulldogs controlled the tempo throughout the final 30 minutes to lock up the three conference points.

The victory delivered key momentum for Redlands ahead of a Oct. 3 road showdown against Occidental College—a rematch between the two programs that shared last season's SCIAC regular-season crown and met in the SCIAC Tournament final.