OSU men end three-game losing streak
October 25, 1998
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon States Ben Roth scored for the second straight game and goalkeeper Bryan Hill recorded his sixth shutout of the season Sunday afternoon as the Beavers beat Cal-Irvine 1-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation mens soccer on Paul Lorenz Field at Patrick Wayne Valley Stadium.
OSU (6-6-1 overall, 2-4-0 MPSF) ended a three-game losing streak as it played without two starters against UCI (7-8-0, 1-3-0).
"The best thing was, people worked hard," OSU head coach Jimmy Conway said. "Players have to look at this game and say, Thats what weve got to do all the time."
OSU was missing defenders Jeff Barry, who was injured in Fridays loss to Cal State-Fullerton, and Svein Groem, who received his fifth yellow card of the season in that game. But Jarod Fitzgerald saw his first action of the season and Matt Olsen got his second start of the fall to join Nathan Moroney and Aaron Mamula in a solid defensive effort.
"They stepped it up on defense," said OSU captain Fredrik Kummernes. "I thought wed miss Svein playing it up from the back, but they made up for it."
Roth put OSU in front in the 43rd minute with an unassisted score. Nick Jensens cross from the right side created a battle for the ball near the right post between Roth and several Anteaters; Roth finally controlled the ball enough to hit a point-blank shot to the left side of the net for his third goal of the year.
"They were crowding me," Roth said. "So I took a touch and just put it in."
Roths goal was far from the Beavers only golden opportunity. Both teams finished with 17 shots, but OSU had more chances inside the box while many of UCIs shots were from the top of the box and sailed wild.
"Even last game, we had created a lot but we didnt put any in," Kummernes said. "That was our problem today, but today we didnt give anything away at the back."
Added Conway: "That was a nightmare on the bench. How many should we have had in the second half? It was frustrating for the kids ... the kids worked real hard and they needed that, they needed to get a win."
Hill made three saves, and the most dangerous came in the 34th minute with the game still scoreless. UCIs Patrick Lee lobbed a ball in from the left side that threatened to get over Hill and into the right side of the net, but Hill leaped backward and punched it away.
Hills sixth shutout of the fall earned him sole possession of second place on the schools list of single-season leaders. It was also the 10th shutout of his career, earning him sole possession of second place on the schools career leaders list.
The Anteaters had one final chance with five seconds remaining when OSU was called for a handball at the top of the box, but the Beavers deflected the free kick and cleared the ball as time expired.
OSUs next challenge is fifth-ranked Washington, which visits the Beavers at 3 p.m. Friday.
"We kind of blew it last Friday," Kummernes said of a 4-1 loss to 19th-ranked Cal State-Fullerton. "Now weve got to win the rest, and this is a good start. That should be a good game."
OREGON STATE 1, CAL-IRVINE 0
Cal-Irvine 0 0 - 0
Oregon State 1 0 - 1
Scoring:
OSU - Ben Roth (unassisted), 42:53.
Shots: UCU 17, OSU 17. Corners: UCI 8, OSU 5. Saves: UCI 3, OSU 3. Fouls: UCI 15, OSU 21.
