Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The fourth-seeded Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team fell 2-1 to top-seeded Ashford (Iowa) in the Association Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon at Mangrum Soccer Field.

AU secured two first-half goals before a nine-man CSUSM team got one back in the 61^st minute. The Cougars were dangerous from there on out, but could not find the equalizer.

CSUSM had its three-match win streak snapped and will see its season end at 6-7-3 overall. The Saints advance to the A.I.I. final on Saturday against second-seeded Jamestown (N.D.)

The winner of AU-Jamestown will receive an automatic berth to the NAIA national tournament.

“We made a couple of bad mistakes that cost us two goals. At this time of the year when your season's on the line, you cannot be chasing the game,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. “We played with nine men and carried the game. I thought we deserved more in the match.”

Lucas Almeida put the Saints up 1-0 in the fourth minute by slotting home a shot to the far post from the right side of the box. AU was granted another when CSUSM conceded an own goal in the 23rd minute.

The Cougars were dealt a blow four minutes later when Ryan VanDenburg was issued a harsh yellow card after clipping Almeida just outside the center circle.

Despite being down a man, the Cougars nearly got one back off the restart, as Scott Rice played a through ball for Thor English. English flicked the ball towards goal, but Patrick Kinsella stuck a boot out to deflect it away from danger.

11 minutes into the second half, Rice was sent off for a late challenge at midfield to put the Cougars down to nine men the rest of the way.

From then on, however, CSUSM was the more dangerous team.

“I told the guys at half time that we needed to stay positive with each other. I was so proud of the guys in the second half. I thought the energy and character we showcased showed we were a championship team,” said Pulvers.

English cut the lead to one after Rice's dismissal by beating Kinsella to the near post after a creative dribble along the left end line.

Jake Kaiser rose to meet Alex Rodriguez's long throw, but Kinsella was equal to the header. Moments later, Rodriguez and Sullivan Tobin did well to combine for a break into the right side of the box. Rodriguez teed a shot up from the 18, but Bart Boguzsewski took the ball off his toe just in time.

Almeida had an opportunity to put the game to bed, getting in behind the three-man CSUSM back line. However, Zach Sheppard cut off his angle on the breakaway before palming the shot wide.

The Cougars' last gasp came 10 seconds from full time. Rodriguez got a solid header to Tobin's long throw at the back post, but Kinsella made his fourth and final save of the game.

For CSUSM, which started the year just 1-5-3, the year comes to a startling halt. The Cougars came into the tournament winners in five of their last six, outscoring opponents 7-0 in its last three contests.

“This is a great group of guys and not just a good group to coach. They're great to be around. I'm looking forward to getting after it moving forward with the guys we'll have back,” said Pulvers.

Seniors Tyler Spitznagel, Cary Cousineau and Andrew Podruski will graduate upon year's end.