ATHERTON, CA – Menlo College Men's Soccer battled the Sharks of Hawaii Pacific to a gritty 3-3 draw Tuesday afternoon at Wunderlich Field to close out the non-conference schedule. The Oaks' relentless pressure in the attacking third earned three penalty kicks throughout the match, with Menlo converting all three opportunities. Menlo held the lead deep into the second half before Hawaii Pacific found the equalizer in the 89th minute, forcing the Oaks to settle for a draw. The Oaks will not face CCAA play starting in Arcata, CA to face Coach Keith Lambert's alma mater, Cal Poly Humboldt.
Oak Leaders
-
Menlo scored three goals, converting on all three penalty-kick opportunities
-
Tim Schwarz converted Menlo's first penalty after a handball in the box in the 9th minute
-
Hugo Few converted two second-half penalties after drawing fouls inside the box
-
Jaxon Tonley recorded six saves across 90 minutes
-
Menlo held the lead until the 89th minute
Two From Few
Menlo's attack repeatedly challenged the Hawaii Pacific defense, resulting in three penalty kicks throughout the afternoon. The first came after a Shark defender was called for a handball inside the box, giving Tim Schwarz the opportunity from the spot. Schwarz calmly converted to put the Oaks on the board and reward Menlo's early attacking pressure. The goal would even the score at 1-1 after an early Sharks goal.
Hugo Few provided the remaining two goals for Menlo, converting twice from the penalty spot in the second half. Few's first opportunity came after he drew a foul near the endline as the Oaks continued to attack into the box. Later in the half, another foul by a Shark defender inside the box gave Menlo its third penalty of the afternoon, with Few once again stepping up and finding the back of the net.
On the defensive end, Jaxon Tonley made six saves across the 90 minutes, providing a steady presence in goal as the Sharks continued to push forward. Menlo maintained its advantage until the 89th minute, when Hawaii Pacific found the equalizer to bring the match level at 3-3. Despite the late result, the Oaks' ability to consistently generate opportunities and maintain pressure throughout the afternoon provides positive momentum heading into conference play.
Up Next: CCAA Play
The Oaks return to Wunderlich Field on Friday, September 18, in Arcara at the Lumberjacks of Cal Poly Humboldt with kickoff scheduled for 12 pm. Menlo will look to carry the attacking pressure and competitive energy from Tuesday's match into their first CCAA matchups, and Coach Keith Lambert's alma mater.
