ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Men's Soccer battled through 90 hard-fought minutes at Wunderlich Field on Thursday afternoon, ending in a 1-1 draw against Chaminade University in PacWest Conference action. The Oaks dominated possession, outshooting the Silverswords 26-2, but despite their relentless offensive pressure, Chaminade managed a late equalizer to steal a point in the final minutes of play.
Menlo Dominates Stat Sheet
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Menlo outshot Chaminade 26-2, including 12 shots on goal.
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The Oaks earned 7 corner kicks while holding the Silverswords to just 1.
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Goalkeeper Martin Fiala made 1 save, while Chaminade's keeper recorded 11.
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Jose "Chicha" Garcia scored the lone Menlo goal in the 34th minute, assisted by Giuseppe Sigala.
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Menlo controlled possession and tempo for most of the match, generating numerous scoring chances from wide play and set pieces.
Oaks Overpower but Can't Put Away Chaminade
From the opening whistle, Menlo asserted themselves as the dominant side. The Oaks' attack wasted no time getting into rhythm, registering multiple early looks from Hugo Few and David Stuber that tested Chaminade's defensive shape. In the 19th minute, Giuseppe Sigala forced the Silversword goalkeeper into the first of many saves, setting the tone for a busy afternoon in front of goal. Menlo's breakthrough came in the 34th minute after winning the ball in the middle third and quickly transitioning into attack. Sigala drove down the right sideline, beating his defender to the end line before slotting a perfectly timed pass back to Jose "Chicha" Garcia at the top of the box. Garcia calmly controlled and fired past the diving goalkeeper to give the Oaks a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
The second half was a continuation of Menlo's offensive control. The Oaks launched 15 shots after the break, including strong efforts from Johan Mendoza Aguilar, Hannes Herrstrom, and Tim Schwarz—all denied by standout saves from Chaminade's keeper. Despite Menlo's dominance, the Silverswords capitalized on one of their rare opportunities in the 87th minute, scoring off a quick counterattack to even the match at 1-1. The Oaks pushed hard in the closing moments, earning a late corner and two more shots on target, but the final whistle sealed the draw. Menlo finished with 26 total shots, 12 on goal, and seven corners while committing 10 fouls. Chaminade totaled just two shots—both on frame—but made them count with one goal and one save from Fiala to preserve the tie.
Up Next
Menlo College Men's Soccer will stay home for their final PacWest Conference home game of the season against the Sharks of Hawai'i Pacific University on Saturday at 2 PM. The Oaks will look to close out their home slate with a strong performance in front of their home crowd at Wunderlich Field.