Head Coach Alex Ortega Secures First Career Victory as Redlands Men’s Soccer Caps Unbeaten Opening Week
Head Coach Alex Ortega Secures First Career Victory as Redlands Men’s Soccer Caps Unbeaten Opening Week
Photo by Alan Barcenas
UR men’s soccer coach Alex Ortega.
By David James Heiss
REDLANDS — Head coach Alex Ortega officially earned his first career victory as the University of Redlands men’s soccer team routed Nelson University 6-0 on Thursday afternoon at San Bernardino Valley College, putting an emphatic stamp on an unbeaten opening week.
The six-goal explosion came two days after the Bulldogs kicked off the Ortega era with a hard-fought 1-1 non-conference draw on the road against Whittier College on Tuesday, Aug. 29. Redlands now stands at 1-0-1 on the young season.
Thursday's performance showcased the Bulldogs' offensive depth, with six different players finding the back of the net.
Junior Jared Keyvan, of Costa Mesa, sparked the scoring in the 23rd minute, redirecting a near-post corner kick from grad student Landon Azavedo, of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Five minutes later, senior Taylor Bell, of Highland, won a 1-on-1 battle on the right flank and whipped in a low cross that junior Thomas Lyden, of Thornwood, New York, calmly tapped in for his first career Bulldog goal. Redlands took a 3-0 cushion into halftime when San Diego senior Zachary Darmanyan capitalized on an errant Nelson clearance in the 34th minute, tucking a shot just inside the right post.
Photo credit: University of Redlands Athletics
Grad student Landon Azavedo was a primary playmaker across both games, having set up the opening goal on Thursday with his corner kick and generated key scoring opportunities late in the Whittier match.
The Bulldogs maintained control in the second half. In the 68th minute, sophomore Brandon Angulo, of Sunnyvale, delivered a corner kick to junior Mateo Ambriz, of Ontario, who flicked a header into the far back corner. Angulo turned scorer in the 83rd minute, driving home a left-footed strike off a drop-back pass from sophomore Nicolas Janssen, of Park City, Utah, who had intercepted a Warrior pass to start the counterattack.
The final tally came in the closing minutes as Redlands completed the dominant shutout. Redlands overwhelmingly outshot the Warriors 25-1, putting 16 shots on goal while holding Nelson without a single attempt on target.
The victory builds on a solid season opener Tuesday night in Whittier, where the Bulldogs battled to a 1-1 draw in Ortega’s head coaching debut.
After a scoreless first half, San Jose senior Colby Anger put Redlands ahead in the 52nd minute by deflecting a rebound into the net following a free kick from Seattle senior Anders Beckton. However, Whittier equalized off an 83rd-minute set piece following a pair of Bulldog yellow cards, capitalizing on an open net after junior goalkeeper Jaden Nisperos, of San Diego, came off his line to challenge an in-swinging ball. Nisperos finished with two saves in the draw.
Redlands will travel to Azusa on Sunday, Sept. 6, for a neutral-site matchup against second-ranked Trinity University (Texas). Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.