Box Score First-year Adrian Jacobs scored a banger for his first college score, but the Banana Slugs couldn't hold off Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the final minutes and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the 2022 season opener.
It's the second-straight year UC Santa Cruz (0-0-1) opened with a tie against the Stags and was the first time the two teams have played in Santa Cruz since the 2009 NCAA Playoffs.

In the 38th minute, Jacobs got on the end of a long pass from defender Will Barba and sent a long looping volley over the Claremont keeper into the empty net to give UC Santa Cruz the lead. The Banana Slugs almost doubled it two minutes later, but Itay Rabinovich had his shot from outside the box smothered for a CMS save.
Leading at halftime, UC Santa Cruz almost had another goal in the 51st minute when Cole Simes got open just inside the 18-yard box but the CMS goalkeeper was there before Simes could turn and shoot.

The game went back and forth the rest of the half with both teams looking for the net. However, with a little over two minutes left, CMS's Justin Blachman curled in a 22-yarder from the left flank to tie the game. The Stags had the last opportunity but blasted their kick high with 54 seconds remaining.

Each team had eight shots apiece in the contest. The physical game featured a combined 25 fouls and eight yellow cards. The Banana Slugs continue their early-season homestand when they play Macalester on Saturday in the UCSC Labor Day Tournament.