Box Score By Michael Wells
Sports Information Director
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — With most of their starters resting to give some of their younger players valuable experience, the Occidental College men's soccer team lost a friendly to UC Santa Cruz 1-0 on Sunday at Lower Field.
Oxy started eight freshmen against the Banana Slugs in the team's second non-conference game since Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play began, games Occidental coach Rod Lafaurie has used as a dress rehearsal for players he might call on later this season that are not necessarily part of the regular rotation.
The first opportunity for the Oxy youngsters resulted in a 5-1 loss to Wheaton College on Sept. 26.
In their second go around, the Tigers reserves were much sharper, with Aaron Surrey's header off of a corner kick three minutes into the second half the only lapse in concentration.
"I'm pleased that the guys who hadn't gotten too much of a run this season played well. Played much better than our last non-conference game," Occidental coach Rod Lafaurie said. "I'm happy that they grew against a decent team. Unfortunately we didn't score and win, but they played well."
Freshman John Richardson was almost the hero for Oxy, just missing a game-tying goal in the 87th minute. Richardson beat the Santa Cruz back line, headed Tyler Eng's ball over a charging Banana Slugs goalkeeper Matt Pereira, but a Santa Cruz defender was able to clear it just before the slow-rolling ball crossed the line.
"(The ball) got played over the top. I made a pretty good run and almost. …The ball was agonizingly rolling toward the goal," Richardson said. "It was sad not to see it go in."
The Tigers had a busy weekend, with a 1-0 victory over Cal Tech on Saturday and a dinner event with parents, alumni and players Saturday night at McCormick & Schmicks seafood restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. Several parents and former players flew in to catch the two games over the weekend and meet the 2011 squad.
"The whole part of the student athlete experience is that players ultimately remember things that are off the soccer field too. I thought it was a wonderful weekend in that regard," Rod Lafaurie said. "Maybe unfocused our players for the game yesterday a little bit. But overall, phenomenal experience."
