Box Score Playing in front of the largest and loudest crowd of the season at homecoming, Cal State San Marcos men's soccer jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Saturday, only to be nipped by visiting Bethesda University 2-1 at the end.

The loss drops CSUSM to 6-5-1 on the year.  Bethesda improves to 10-1.

In a match that featured enough excitement to match the crowd's enthusiasm, the two teams played a back-and-forth contest that wasn't decided until the final 15 minutes.  It was a fascinating contrast of styles; Bethesda playing deliberate, slick soccer and always looking to hold possession for the build-up, and the Cougars playing the kind of physical, direct, high-effort game that has served Coach Ron Pulvers' squad so well these last few years.

A very entertaining first half was capped off in the 41^st minute with an outstanding goal by the home side.  Standing over a free kick from about 30 yards out, Alex Brunsell swung in a low, hard strike across the net to the near post, where Jake Kaiser flawlessly headed it into the net to put CSUSM up 1-0.

Things would turn very quickly in the second half, however.  Just 16 seconds in, a play on the edge of the box led to a penalty kick for Bethesda, which Cheunyong Park just getting it by Cougar keeper Kiki Castro.

The 1-1 tie would persist through most of the second half, with CSUSM missing on two golden opportunities for standing headers from close in on net.  But it would be the visitors who got the breakthrough, with Park playing in Esli Avila in the 77^th minute, and Avila flicking his shot by Castro into the top corner of the net.
The 2-1 score would persist , sending the Cougars home with a loss.

Prior to the match, CSUSM celebrated senior day, with seniors Kane Leonard, Kiki Castro, Casey Wootan, Max Blumenshine, and Jordan Shadeed all honored for their contributions to the program.

CSUSM will be on the road for its final 3 matches, starting with a conference tilt at Soka on October 14^th.