Beavers, Spartans Post Season-Opening Wins at OSU Diadora Classic

The two-day event concludes Saturday with UC Riverside (0-1) meeting Michigan State (1-0) at 5:00 PM, followed by Oregon State (1-0) against Sacramento State (0-1) at 7:00 PM.

Salem-News.com Sports

CORVALLIS - Alex Christensen, who missed the last 12 games of 2005 with a knee injury, made a big return for the Oregon State men’s soccer team, as the junior defender scored the game-winner in a season-opening 2-1 win against UC Riverside.

Friday night’s game was part of the 2006 OSU Diadora Classic, held at Lorenz Field. In the opening contest, Michigan State defeated Sacramento State in overtime, 1-0.

“I think it was a typical opening first game for both sides,” OSU Coach Dana Taylor said. “There was a lot of nervous energy. Guys weren’t playing with their normal confidence. I think it helped late in the game when their guy picked up a red card.”

Senior forward Bryan Jordan got the Beavers’ season off to a good start, as he scored the opening goal in just the fourth minute. Senior defender Matt Bowman sent a long ball up the field from his position at right back. Jordan, positioned about eight yards in front of the left post, headed it toward the goal. UC Riverside goalkeeper Charles Alamo nearly knocked it away, but didn’t get enough of the ball to stop it from going over his head and into the back of the net.

Though OSU kept the pressure on UC Riverside in the first half, it was the Highlanders that made OSU pay on a defensive miscue. Andrew Villalobos sent a cross in from the right side, and Nathan Paterson wasn’t marked closely enough in the box. He headed it on goal, and though OSU sophomore goalkeeper Packy Deenihan got a hand on it, the ball made it past him for a 1-1 tie in the 35th minute.

In the 66th minute, the Beavers struck again, and it turned out to be the game-winner. Freshman midfielder Ryan Callahan sent in a free kick from near the midfield stripe. The ball was deflected by a UCR defender, but right to Christensen who was positioned near the right post. Despite a difficult angle, Christensen headed the ball inside the left post for a 2-1 lead.

UC Riverside’s hopes for a comeback took a big hit when Erasmo Solorzano received his second yellow card and was sent off in the 82nd minute.

The Beavers ended up outshooting the Highlanders 12-5.

In the first game, Michigan State scored the game-winner in the first overtime period in the 97th minute. Ben Pirmann got the ball on the right endline and crossed it into the middle for Zac Scaffidi, who one-timed it home for the golden goal.

Although Michigan State had a sizeable 18-4 advantage on shots, both teams had some good opportunities. Sacramento State goalkeeper Ryan Kenny had a big game, stopping most of the shots on goal (nine saves), but even when it got past him, Hornet defenders were there to clear shots off the line three times. Michigan State’s defense cleared a ball off the line once.

Early in the second half, Michigan State’s Greg Janicki created the closest call of regulation, as he kicked a ball, had it deflected, and it went off the post.

With 35 minutes left in regulation, Sacramento State had been outshot 10-2, but appeared to gain a big advantage when Michigan State’s Josh Rogers received a red card. That advantage was shortlived, however, as Sacramento State’s Zlatan Kuckovic drew a red card just four minutes later, and the teams played 10-on-10 the rest of the way.

OSU 1-1---2

UCR 1-0---1

Goals: Bryan Jordan (Matt Bowman), OSU, 3:50; Nathan Paterson (Andrew Villalobos), UCR, 34:38; Alex Christensen (Ryan Callahan), OSU, 66:00.

Shots: OSU 12, UCR 5 Corner Kicks: OSU 4, UCR 2 Fouls: OSU 15, UCR 20 Saves: OSU 0, UCR 1

SAC 0-0-0---0

MSU 0-0-1---1

Goals: Zac Scaffidi (Ben Pirmann), MSU, 96:43.

Shots: SAC 4, MSU 18 Corner Kicks: SAC 1, MSU 7 Fouls: SAC 25, MSU 10 Saves: SAC 12, MSU 2

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