Photo by Shira Oneal-Abend

Story by Joe Perrino, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

LA VERNE, CA – The University of La Verne men's soccer team took to the pitch Wednesday night for a non-conference matchup against the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs, and the Leopards delivered, picking up a 2-1 win in exciting fashion.

Tied at one late in the game, it was looking like the fans may be in for an extra 10 minutes of soccer, on a night that featured harsh Southern California fall weather. But while the spectators were cold up in the stands, the Leos began to heat up offensively.

The Leos found themselves in a three-on-two situation with freshman Javier Arellano handling the ball near the sideline about 30 yards from the goal and freshmen Sanders Esplin and Angel Loza floating near the top of the box. 

Arellano dotted a pass into Esplin, who couldn't quite come up with it, but the ball found its way into the foot of Loza, who acrobatically spun and whipped a kick across his body while soaring horizontally in the air. The spectacular found back of the net and put the Leos up 2-1 with only 16 minutes remaining. The Leopards defense would hold to come away with the win.

Angel Loza's game-winner from last night ? #GoLeos #d3soc pic.twitter.com/22wnThVqtO

— La Verne Leopards (@ULVAthletics) October 21, 2021

Early in the game, the Leopards came out firing with a strong attack, maintaining control of possession, for most of the first 15 minutes. They were able to fire off a couple of good looks, and one finally hit. 

On a breakaway from the far side — near the tents —  Loza struck a perfect cross over to senior James Coe who smoked one right off the goalie, but then on the ground recovered and flipped the ball up past Banana Slug goalie, Will Schermerhorn to take a 1-0 Leo lead. 

That goal was Coe's fourth of the season and he now leads the team in that category.

While the Leo defense was stout Wednesday night, with three blocked shots and six saves by freshman Logan Reese, they did let up one goal around the start of the second half from Santa Cruz's Davin Cox. 

However, that did not take away from the win and the stellar stops the Leos had down the stretch with the Banana Slugs taking three shots in the final five minutes and a half of the game.

La Verne will look to continue its winning ways at 7 p.m. this Saturday, October 23 at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.