CORVALLIS – The Oregon State men’s soccer team booked a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 win over SMU Thursday evening at Paul Lorenz Field.

 

“I couldn’t be happier for these guys,” said Oregon State head coach Terry Boss. “Our guys came out and executed really well. More than anything these guys stuck together like the family they have become, and as a coach I couldn’t be more proud.”

 

The win is the second postseason victory in the history of the Oregon State men’s soccer program, as the team makes its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.

 

Junior Eric Diaz scored the game-winning goal in the 68^th minute, less than a minute after SMU had leveled the score. Freshman Sofiane Djeffal scored the game’s opening goal in the first half. Senior Don Tchilao recorded a pair of assists.

 

Oregon State advances to face Saint Mary’s Sunday afternoon in Moraga, Calif. That game is slated to start at 1 p.m.

 

The Beavers came away with the best scoring chance of the early-going, as Djeffal scorched a shot from 20 yards out that deflected over the crossbar. Tchilao followed that up with a 17^th-minute effort that was blocked.

 

Oregon State nearly had a great opportunity in the 23^rd minute when Joel Walker played a low cross into the box, but Gloire Amanda couldn’t get meaningful contact onto it from 10 yards out.

 

The Beavers went in front in the 28^th on a brilliant goal from Djeffal. Amanda played a ball across the box to the head of Tchilao. The senior knocked the ball across the face of goal to set up Djeffal from close range.

 

Oregon State continued to control the first half from there, as the Beavers headed to the break up 1-0.

 

Goalkeeper Adrian Fernandez made his first real save of the night in the 52^nd minute, as he dove to his left to keep the ball out of the net. The freshman goalie was called into action again eight minutes later, as he reacted quickly to make a stop from close range.

 

SMU leveled the score in the 69^th minute, but Oregon State answered immediately, as Tchilao set up Diaz who fired the ball past the keeper.

 

Amanda nearly doubled the lead in the 79^th, but the SMU keeper dove to his left to make the save. The Beavers were able to hold on from there to take the win.

 

As a team, Oregon State held a 10-8 advantage in shots.

 
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