SANTA CRUZ, CA --Friday was a big day at UCSC for the Slug Men's Soccer Team.  The visiting rivals of Chapman University from Orange County CA came to town.  This game was not just a Division III battle, which is important for the Slugs, but both programs are some of the few "Independent" DIII schools in the nation.  Without a sport league to call their own, it has become evermore important for these two programs to knock one another off in order to be considered for the National Tournament at the end of the season.  Not to mention which, the Slug Men knocked off Chapman in overtime one of the last regulation games of the season last fall.  So, Chapman came to town hungry for revenge and the Slugs knew it.

Victory seemed almost out of grasp for the Slugs at the start of the second half, when Chapman slotted home an unassisted goal to go ahead 1-0 in the 47th minute.  The Slugs were not playing their best, and Chapman took advantage.  However, the Slugs felt their backs against a hard wall and fought their way to a tremendous 3-1 victory!  The goal against them was just the catalyst they needed to start playing their game.  With a beautiful header goal by senior captain Dan Seltzer assisted by freshman Mark Barbosa the Slugs tied the game in the 55th minute.  After almost 30 minutes of hard back n' forth play it was seniors Fernando Otero and Matt Fondy connecting not once, but twice to win the game for the Slugs with both goals by Fondy assisted by Otero in the 81st and 88th minutes.  The Slugs now put their sights to next weekend when they face La Sierra University and the University of Dallas.