Goal barrage leads Banana Slugs to big win at Fresno Pacific

Tuesday, October 4

Fresno, CA

5:00 PM

UC Santa Cruz Athletics

2-6-3, 0-0-0

Fresno Pacific

2-7-0, 0-3-0

UC Santa Cruz

Fresno Pacific

First Year Allred completed scoring for UC Santa Cruz

Goal barrage leads Banana Slugs to big win at Fresno Pacific

10/4/2022 6:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

FRESNO- Luca Bravo, Caleb Lee, and Tyler Allred all scored their first goals of the season as UC Santa Cruz overwhelmed Division II Fresno Pacific 3-0.
The Banana Slugs improve to 2-6-3 on the year as they broke a three-game losing streak.
"It was a great win for us," said head coach Mike Runeare. "The guys have been working hard in training, staying positive and finally, with excellent finishing, found the back of the net."

The Sunbirds had the first good opportunity in the 14th minute, but Arman Salimi quickly pushed the 25-yard strike out for a corner. The Banana Slugs countered and got off a shot 30 seconds later that led to a corner of their own.
The Banana Slugs struck first in the fast-paced game in the 29th minute, as Bravo got on the end of a pass from Zander Crawford and bashed a right-footer from 10 yards off the post and in the net.
UC Santa Cruz got two more in the second half to put the game away. Seven minutes after the restart, Lee got free of his defender and sent it to the upper part of the net to make it 2-0. Three minutes later it was Allred's turn, scoring his first career goal after getting a long pass from Will Barba and one-touching the volley over the goalkeeper. The Banana Slugs squashed Fresno's last gasp as they turned away the Sunbirds' two corners in the last minute to secure the shutout.

The win was the first over Fresno Pacific in seven games. The Banana Slugs last win in the series was in 2009. It was the first time ever UC Santa Cruz beat the Sunbirds in Fresno. The hosts had a 16-10 shot advantage and 5-4 edge in corners. Salimi had a season-high six saves.

The Banana Slugs look to keep the momentum going when the travel south for a weekend roadtrip, beginning Saturday at old rival Redlands.