Groessl and Braun Go for Goal in 2-1 Win

Friday, October 2

St. Paul, MN

2:00 PM PT | 4:00 PM CT

UC Santa Cruz Athletics

3-3-3, 0-0-0

Bethel University

3-6-1, 0-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
UC Santa Cruz	2	0	2
Bethel (MN)	1	0	1

10/2/2026 4:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minne – The UC Santa Cruz men's soccer team defeated Bethel University 2-1 in the Friday afternoon contest to open up their weekend of action in Minnesota. Soren Groessl and Michael Braun brought in the goals for UC Santa Cruz, with Groessl scoring in the seventh minute of the half and Braun capping off the Slugs in the 19th minute. Tobias Jacobson-Bell brought in three saves in the afternoon contest, earning his third three-save game of the season. Up next, UC Santa Cruz continues their away trip in Minnesota in their next contest on Sunday, October 4th versus Carleton College.

How It Happened
After taking just six minutes to get warmed up, UC Santa Cruz struck first in the opening shot of the contest to take an early 1-0 lead. A high-intensity possession for UCSC set up Roman Avagimov to assist the first goal of the contest, scored by Groessl, to take the early lead for UCSC. The Banana Slugs continued to push Bethel on the offensive side of the ball and was immediately hunting for another goal after Groessl's. Just over three minutes after his goal, Groessl almost statted his second score of the game and forced a save by the Royals. The Slugs continued to showcase control in the game, and a critical foul by the Royals in the penalty box gave UCSC a penalty kick opportunity. Braun took the open attempt for the Banana Slugs and finished business to give UCSC a 2-0 lead in the 19th minute. After a misread ball for UC Santa Cruz, the Royals scored in the final seconds of the half to bring the score back within one at 2-1. The opening 45 minutes ended in a 7-3 shot advantage for the Banana Slugs and two corner kick opportunities for both teams.

Groessl opened the second half just as persistent as the first, and forced a save by the Royals less than a minute in. Bethel matched the energy of the Banana Slugs and forced a save by Tobias Jacobson-Bell in the 49th minute, collecting his first of the game. UC Santa Cruz kept shots going despite the Royals piecing together more attacks, and shots from the Banana Slugs kept firing in by Luke Williams, Erik Moreno Herrera, and Braun. Jacobson-Bell held things down defensively to add two additional saves to his afternoon to keep UC Santa Cruz ahead in the contest. Despite late shot attempts for the Banana Slugs, the second half remained scoreless for both teams, and UCSC finished in an 18-11 shot advantage in the win.