THOUSAND OAKS, CA. – UC Santa Cruz played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Cal Lutheran University on Saturday. Both teams exchanged goals in a tightly contested match, with the Banana Slugs scoring twice in the final 10 minutes before CLU found a late equalizer. With the draw, the Slugs are now 4-1-7 on the season and will return home to play Menlo College on Oct. 23.
 
How It Happened
UCSC struck first in the 23rd minute when Soren Groessl found the back of the net, capping off a first half that saw the Banana Slugs take ten shots and goalkeeper Tobias Jacobson-Bell make two key saves to preserve the lead.
 
The second half featured back-and-forth action. CLU equalized in the 54th minute, but UCSC responded quickly with a goal from Joaquin Greenberg, assisted by Zander Crawford, in the 60th minute to reclaim the lead. The match's final minutes were full of drama, with CLU scoring in the 86th minute to level the score again. UCSC immediately answered as Max Beldner, assisted by Groessl, scored in the 87th minute to make it 3-2.
 
However, Cal Lutheran found an equalizer a minute later, and the game ended in a 3-3 draw. UCSC took ten more shots in the second half, continuing to apply pressure, while Jacobson-Bell added two more saves.
 
By the Numbers
• Shots: UCSC – 20 (10 on target), Cal Lutheran – 15 (7 on target)
• Corners: UCSC – 5, Cal Lutheran – 5
 
What's Next
UC Santa Cruz will return home to face Menlo College on Wednesday, October 23rd at the Lower East Field.