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Hope International University

MS vs TMU GSAC Final
(C) Liza Rosales
2
The Master's TMU (9-9-2)
4
Winner Hope International HIU (14-3-3)
The Master's TMU
(9-9-2)
2
Final
4
Hope International HIU
(14-3-3)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
The Master's TMU 1 1 2
Hope International HIU 1 3 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Robert Nilsen

Alcaraz's Brace Powers Royals to Back to Back GSAC Championships

Fullerton, CA – The Hope International men's soccer team (14-3-3) won their sixth game in a row as they overcame an early deficit to defeat The Master's University Mustangs 4-2 to win their second GSAC Tournament Championship in a row on Thursday evening at Titan Stadium on the campus of Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, CA

It was a shaky start to the game as both teams gave the ball away early on with poor passing. It would then only get worse for the Royals as a shanked clearance in front of goal ended up in their own net for an own goal in the 11th minute as the Mustangs took a 1-0 lead. The Royals kept their heads up high though as they raced back to midfield and pressed forward for the equalizer. It took some time but the Royals finally broke through in the 37th minute as Isidro Rios played a great ball into Matthias Alcaraz who finished for his second goal of the year to tie it 1-1. The Royals then went looking for the go ahead goal but it was the Mustangs who had the best chance to retake the lead as an open header by Caden Zierenberg in the closing seconds drew a huge save by Berlin Torres to keep the game tied 1-1 at halftime. 

The Royals came out on the attack to start the second and would take the lead as Sebastian Ramirez and Christian Hernandez exchanged passes before finding Jorge Perez who smashed the ball home for his third goal of the season to put the Royals up 2-1 in the 56th minute. The Royals kept pushing for more but the Mustangs goalie came up with several huge stops to keep them in it. The Mustangs then tied the game in the 69th minute off a free kick from GSAC Player of the Year Trent Rickard. The tie would last long as a shot by Perez rebounded straight to Royals captain Braulio Morales who finished to give the Royals a 3-2 lead in the 73rd minute. The Royals defense then shutdown the Mustangs while they added an insurance goal in the 84th minute as Alcaraz scored his second of the game off a rebound of an Erick Cabrera shot to make it 4-2. The Royals defense then held on to secure the 4-2 win and their second GSAC Tournament Champion in a row. Torres played all 90 minutes in goal with seven saves.

With the win the Royals punch their ticket to the NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round. Click here to tune into the NAIA selection show on Saturday, November 16 at noon to find out who they will be playing and where they will be going.
 


 

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