Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Ohio St
LMU Captures Goal Rush Classic Title
9/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 8, 2002
FS 1, OSU 0 (Box Score)
LMU 3, UCI 1 (Box Score)
FRESNO, Calif. - Loyola Marymount (3-0-1) used accurate shooting to remain unbeaten this season and defeated UC Irvine 3-1 in the 2002 Goal Rush Classic at Bulldog Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Lions fired just eight shots, but were usually on the mark as five of them were on goal, including three goals scored against the Anteaters (2-1-1).
UC Irvine took nine shots, but had only two of them be on goal. LMU made the most of its opportunities scoring goals on its only two shots of the first half.
Lion midfielder Pat Parker scored the first goal of the match at the 8:44 mark. The Anteaters countered at the 21:56 period when midfielder Josh Murad knifed his way through the middle of the Lions' defense to tie the match 1-1.
LMU would hold steady for the rest of the match, however, surviving all Anteater onslaughts. At the 28:51 mark, Lion midfielder Andres Murriagui scored the eventual game-winner. Murriagui, who was selected as the Offensive MVP of the Goal Rush Classic, stole the ball from the goalkeeper to score his first goal of the tournament.
Defender Jeff Kovar added the final goal in the second half and LMU was on its way to the championship, going 2-0 in the tournament, defeating Ohio State 2-1 on Friday and UC Irvine 3-1 today.
In the second match, Fresno State (1-1-1) collected its first shutout and win of the season with a 1-0 victory against Ohio State (2-2).
Buckeye head coach John Bluem, and former Bulldog head coach, had a sour homecoming in Fresno, going 0-2 in the tournament.
Senior Jeremy Proud (Auburn, Wash.), who was selected as the Defensive MVP of the Goal Rush Classic, was in mid-season form, denying Ohio State six times while breaking up scoring chances throughout the day.
"They had some dangerous chances off misplayed balls by us," said Coach Chesler. "Jeremy had an outstanding game, however, and we were able to smother them when we had to."
Fresno State needed just one goal on the day, which was provided by sophomore midfielder Dan Oka (Morgan Hill, Calif.) at the 27:38 mark. Oka dribbled through the right side on break away lead by senior midfielder Kupono Low (Fremont, Calif.).
"The goal was huge," said Chesler. "We usually defend well enough to be in a game, but scoring is the hard part."
The Bulldogs return to action at Bulldog Stadium, Thursday against Portland at 7 p.m.
