Cal Poly Falls in Overtime to Gonzaga, 1-0

September 8, 2013

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal Poly men’s soccer sophomore goalkeeper Wade Hamilton chalked up a season-high six saves on Sunday afternoon, but a 107th-minute strike from Gonzaga junior midfielder Lars Ludwigs accounted for the difference at Alex G. Spanos Stadium as the Bulldogs departed with a 1-0 overtime victory against the Mustangs.

Cal Poly (2-2-0), coming off of a 3-0 victory at No. 6 UCLA (Sept. 5) and contesting the program’s 2013 home opener, kept Gonzaga (2-1-0) without a shot attempt during the second half before the Bulldogs tested Hamilton four times during the first overtime period – including a 96th-minute effort from junior midfielder Nick Hamer that clanged off the left post. The Bulldogs eventually found the match winner three minutes from time as Hamer slid a pass from the right edge of the Mustang penalty area in to Ludwigs, who rolled his first goal of the season past Hamilton and into the lower left corner of the net.

Cal Poly was held without a shot attempt until senior midfielder George Malki fired wide right of the post in the 15th minute. Cal Poly’s best chance to break through early came in the 18th as senior forward Mackenzie Pridham’s attempt from distance was stopped by Gonzaga senior goalkeeper Ryan Caballero.

Mustang senior forward Chris Bernardi next saw his 38th-minute attempt corralled by Caballero before freshman winger Ari Lassiter was thwarted from five yards in front of goal to close the first half.

Cal Poly, however, produced only one additional shot on target the remainder of the day as senior midfielder Ronald Medrano Williams was stopped in the 85th.

Gonzaga totaled nine corner kick opportunities to Cal Poly’s two.

The Mustangs continue their five-match home stand when hosting Penn on Friday, Sept. 13. Match time is set for 7 p.m.