LA JOLLA, Calif. ? Senior forward Tony Fernandez, a Rancho Bernardo High School graduate, capitalized on an errant pass for a score early and added a successful penalty kick late in the match, leading a shorthanded UC San Diego men's soccer team on to a 2-0 win against Concordia University Irvine Saturday night.
Fernandez scored just 1:35 after entering the game early in the first half, taking advantage of a turnover committed by the CUI goalkeeper and sliding a low ball into the left side of the net. In the 82nd minute Fernandez was obstructed deep in the defensive zone of the Eagles (0-1-0) and the head referee awarded the Tritons (2-0-0) with a penalty kick. Fernandez fired the kick home to the right of the keeper.
“Tony is a lot to handle physically,” said Pascale, referring to Fernandez's 6-foot-3 and 200 pound stature. “But he's not just a physical specimen. He makes good touches and has a good nose for the goal.”
The feat of scoring two goals off the bench hadn't been accomplished by a Triton player since German Brovo poured in two scores as a reserve on Nov. 1, 2004 in a 4-0 UCSD victory against Cal State San Bernardino.
The Tritons ended up outshooting the Eagles 10-4 and played the final 38 minutes a man down after junior midfielder Chris Gutierrez (North Hollywood, Calif.) picked up two quick yellow cards to start the second half and consequently, was sent off.
Impressively, the UCSD defense did not allow a shot on goal for the first time in about a year. Senior goalkeeper Peter Akman (Tampa, Fla.) registered his second shutout in as many games, pushing his career total to five.
CUI ended as the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association runner-up with a No. 10 national ranking and a 19-4-0 overall record. Saturday was the first match of the 2008 campaign for the Eagles.
The Tritons finish their three-match homestand on Friday with a 7 p.m. game against Cal State San Marcos. The Cougars fell to California Collegiate Athletic Association opponent Cal State L.A. this past Friday in overtime, 2-1.
