POMONA, CA – Menlo Men's Soccer earned a 3-1 victory over the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos, using two second-half goals to secure the win after taking a 1-0 lead into the break. Diego Ruiz opened the scoring just before halftime before Tim Schwarz and Manuel Portillo added insurance goals in the second half. Goalkeeper Vebjorn Madshus anchored the Oaks defensively, recording five saves across 90 minutes of play. The Oaks go back up the CCAA rankings up to #3, with results still to come in to decide.
Oak Highlights
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Diego Ruiz scored his first goal of the season to put Menlo ahead just before halftime.
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Tim Schwarz netted his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Roy Rosenberg.
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Manuel Portillo added a third goal to give the Oaks a two-goal cushion.
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Vebjorn Madshus recorded five saves in a full 90-minute performance in goal.
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Schwarz ranks tied for second in the CCAA with seven goals, while he and Hugo Few sit fourth and fifth, respectively, in the conference's points standings.
Three Goals, Three Points
The Oaks battled through a tightly contested first half before finding the breakthrough in the final minute. After earning a free kick approximately 30 yards from the end line, Diego Ruiz sent the ball toward the Broncos' goal. The attempt took an unexpected path, slipping through the goalkeeper's legs and into the net. Ruiz's first goal of the season gave Menlo a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Menlo returned to the field with greater composure and quickly extended its lead. In the 61st minute, Roy Rosenberg regained possession in the defensive half and delivered a strong ball up the sideline to find Tim Schwarz making a driving run toward the goal box. Schwarz found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and calmly placed the ball into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season. The goal pushed Schwarz into a tie for second in the CCAA in goals scored, while his continued production keeps him among the conference's top point leaders.
Just moments later, the Oaks struck again. Hugo Few drove toward the end line before sending a cross into a crowded goal box, where Manuel Portillo found the ball and put a shot on frame. The attempt slipped past the goalkeeper in the 63rd minute, giving Menlo a 3-0 lead and valuable insurance. Cal Poly Pomona responded with a goal in the 67th minute, but the Oaks maintained their advantage through the final whistle. Madshus helped preserve the win with five saves, including several key stops throughout the second half, as Menlo closed out the 3-1 victory.
Up Next…
The Oaks return to action on Thursday, October 15, when they face the Eagles of CSU Los Angeles at home. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 pm as Menlo looks to carry its momentum when they face the #1 team in the nation.
