Box Score Cougar men's soccer's five-game unbeaten streak was snapped on Sunday, as CSUSM came out flat against U.C. Santa Cruz and eventually paid for it, losing 2-1 in overtime.
The Cougars drop to 7-3-2 on the season. Santa Cruz improves to 8-2-3.
Playing on the road in ugly conditions, CSUSM did not come out with the fire that it has played with for the vast majority of the 2010 season. Still, the Cougars got on the board first in the 8th minute, as a Jake Kaiser corner found the head of Richie Kaiser, who flicked it past the keeper to put CSUSM up 1-0.
The lead would last for less than two minutes, however, as a shot by Santa Cruz's Michael Hanabusa from midfield surprised keeper Kevin Ernst, who was unable to stop it from traveling over him and into the net.
The tie would persist through the remainder of the first half, with CSUSM getting its footing and taking control of the contest in the middle of the game, though a questionable red card to midfielder Martin Suarez put the Cougars down a man from the 65th minute on.
The Cougars had multiple chances to end the game, including two great efforts by Alex Rodriguez - one that hit the post and one that was stopped brilliantly by Santa Cruz keeper Brian LaFaille.
But in the 98th minute, it was UCSC who ended the contest, as Clayton Sorenson tapped in a pass from Matt Fondy to close out the 2-1 defeat for CSUSM.
The Cougars will look to rebound against another NCAA Division III team, Chapman College, at home on Wednesday.
