SEATTLE – Seattle University men's soccer beat UC Davis, 3-1, on Saturday night. Jesse Ortiz, Declan McGlynn, and James Morris each scored as the Redhawks secured a weekend sweep at Championship Field the start the season.
SU (2-0-0) opened the night with some vintage Redhawk soccer, keeping possession and creating chances in the open field. Noe Meza drove and shot, but the Aggie goalkeeper stopped the try. The loose ball came out front, where Ortiz leapt and volleyed in a goal with his left foot for a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
Later in the half, Meza corralled a pass in his own half and turned to beat his defender. He sprinted down the right side and found Levonte Johnson ahead. Johnson dribbled around and through the defense and then dropped a pass off to the back post, where McGlynn was on the spot to finish for a two-goal difference in the 29th minute.
The Aggies brought the pressure in the second half, showing why they were chosen preseason favorite to win the Big West. After several near-misses, the visitors made it a 2-1 margin in the 78th minute. Davis kept at it, but Akili Kasim came through with enough plays to keep the Aggies at bay. Finally, in the 88th minute, Campbell Strong sent a pass ahead to Morris, who found himself behind the defense. The forward dribbled ahead and around the goalkeeper and then eventually drilled a shot into the top of the cage to seal the decision.
Kasim finished with nine saves on the night.
Seattle U heads east for a pair of games next weekend. It will face Charlotte on Thursday at 4 p.m. Pacific before heading to Duke on Monday, Sept. 6.
SU (2-0-0) opened the night with some vintage Redhawk soccer, keeping possession and creating chances in the open field. Noe Meza drove and shot, but the Aggie goalkeeper stopped the try. The loose ball came out front, where Ortiz leapt and volleyed in a goal with his left foot for a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
Later in the half, Meza corralled a pass in his own half and turned to beat his defender. He sprinted down the right side and found Levonte Johnson ahead. Johnson dribbled around and through the defense and then dropped a pass off to the back post, where McGlynn was on the spot to finish for a two-goal difference in the 29th minute.
The Aggies brought the pressure in the second half, showing why they were chosen preseason favorite to win the Big West. After several near-misses, the visitors made it a 2-1 margin in the 78th minute. Davis kept at it, but Akili Kasim came through with enough plays to keep the Aggies at bay. Finally, in the 88th minute, Campbell Strong sent a pass ahead to Morris, who found himself behind the defense. The forward dribbled ahead and around the goalkeeper and then eventually drilled a shot into the top of the cage to seal the decision.
Kasim finished with nine saves on the night.
Seattle U heads east for a pair of games next weekend. It will face Charlotte on Thursday at 4 p.m. Pacific before heading to Duke on Monday, Sept. 6.