Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team erupted for three goals in the second half en route to a 3-0 victory over Hope International on Wednesday afternoon at the Multipurpose Field.
Diego Fontes scored his third goal in two matches with a one-time, left-footed volley from the top of the box in the 55th minute before Luka Stevanovic made it 2-0 five minutes later via a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Eric Lopez capped off the scoring in the 83rd, slotting home his first goal of the season on a cross from Scott Rice.
The win moves CSUSM to 2-0 overall, while HIU drops to 2-3.
"I thought we started strong and then gave too much of the game away in the first half. We became too direct and lost our rhythm," said head coach Ron Pulvers. "We played a solid second half, passed the ball much sharper, and obviously scored the three goals. Overall, I'm pleased with the process."
The Cougars controlled play in the first half, but created just one dangerous opportunity. Mason Grimes stepped in front of a vertical ball by the HIU defense before chipping the ball back to a wide-open Lopez above the box. Lopez turned and found himself alone with the goalkeeper, but was caught offside.
CSUSM kept pressing early in the second half and finally got the goal it was looking for on Fontes' world-class strike. Louie Farfan took a couple of dribbles through the middle of the field before playing a chip to Lopez at the top of the arc. Lopez laid it off on his first touch back towards Fontes, who sized up the bouncing ball with a pair of steps before cracking a one-time half volley inside the left post. Fontes, a junior transfer from La Sierra, was making just his second appearance as a Cougar.
In the 60th minute, CSUSM capitalized on an HIU defensive miscue to go up by a pair. The Royals played a ball back to their center defender, but it got in behind him. Stevanovic ran onto it inside the box and forced in a shot off the right post on a deflection from goalkeeper Sergio Paz.
Stevanovic, like Fontes, has scored in back-to-back games for the Cougars.
Zach Sheppard was called into action for CSUSM as Angel Ayala found space inside the right side of the box for HIU. Ayala hit a rocket from 12 yards out to the short post, but Sheppard parried it out for a corner kick to keep HIU off the board.
Movement by CSUSM midfielder Angel Mora led to the Cougars' third. Mora dribbled a couple of defenders on the top of the left side of the box before sliding a no-look pass to Rice along the left end line. The pass pulled Paz off his line and left Lopez with virtually no cover in the box.
Rice picked up his head, saw his fellow captain Lopez all alone inside the six, and played a firm pass across the area. Lopez finished into the open net to hand CSUSM a comfortable victory in its home opener.
The Cougars are 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2010.
CSUSM travels to Aliso Viejo to face Soka University on Saturday afternoon.
