SANTA CRUZ, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz men's soccer program started the 2024 season with a 2-1 victory over the Pacific Lutheran Lutes. The Banana Slugs scored a goal in each half with
Joaquin Greenberg finding the back of the net in the 15th minute with
Kotetsu Horike scoring in the 70th minute for the insurance goal. Overall, the Banana Slugs were outshot 15-12 with the Lutes holding a 12-6 advantage in shot on goal but
Chris Jamrok was unphased between the pipes as the Banana Slugs goalkeeper recorded 11 saves in the contest to help secure the victory on opening day. The Banana Slugs will be back in action tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. when they host the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on the Lower East Field.
How It Happened
With both teams making their season debut, the Lutes and Banana Slugs settled into the action early to find their rhythm with UC Santa Cruz finding the first shot of the day in the 7th minute. Pacific Lutheran managed to gain possession and counter, taking a shot to the bottom right sight in the 15th minute but
Chris Jamrok was there to make the save. UC Santa Cruz quickly countered, scoring the game's first goal just 37 seconds later with
Joaquin Greenberg finding the back of the net to give UCSC a 1-0 lead. The Slugs managed to hold that lead through the first half, entering the halftime break with a 5-3 advantage in shots with both teams applying heavy pressure with five fouls each.
In the second half, the Banana Slugs earned a corner kick just over two minutes after the break that resulted in a shot on goal from
Max Beldner but was saved by the Lutes. In the 70th minute, the Slugs found their insurance goal after
Kotetsu Horike beat his defender off the give and go and struck the upper ninety to put the Banana Slugs up 2-0. Pacific Lutheran was quick to retaliate as they poured the pressure on and answer in the 79th minute after dribbling around the keeper before finding the back of the net to cut the UCSC lead to 2-1. UC Santa Cruz did well to preserve the lead in the final 10 minutes of action despite heavy pressure from the Lutes, earning the 2-1 victory on the Lower East Field on opening day.
As mentioned, the Slugs will return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Sagehens from Pomona-Pitzer at 3:00 p.m.
