By: By Jade Richardson - Sports Information Coordinator (jader@sfu.ca)
Box Score Burnaby, BC – The Simon Fraser University men's soccer team bounced back Saturday night with a 3-1 win over Saint Martin's.
The team played 72-minutes without a goal, displaying tremendous composure in a comeback victory.
It was an uncharacteristic slow start for SFU as the Clan struggled to score in the first half, despite having 14 shots in the half.
Both teams showed strong defensive ability in the first half, playing at a draw for the majority of the half.
It was Saint Martin's that got on the score sheet first, as Trevor Talen put home a Jake Zimmer pass in the 39
th minute.
The Clan continued to press in the remaining moments of the half, but the teams headed to the change rooms with SFU down by one goal.
The teams returned in the second half, the Clan hungry to even the score.
The home side continued their offensive attacking throughout the half, but it seemed as if their shots were not destined to cross the goal line.
Fortunately, SFU's pressure paid-off as in the 72
nd minute a
Joel Malouf goal broke the silence, as the defender put in a
Magnus Kristensen pass to even the score.
But the Clan were not done, as the team built off the momentum of goal-one, searching for the goal-ahead goal and potential game-winner.
In the 82
nd minute
Callum Whittaker knocked in a
Nico Espinosa corner kick to earn the 2-1 goal and put the Clan in position to close.
Three minutes later SFU were rewarded one final time as in the 85
th minute another goal was scored off a corner kick, this time Alex Kleefeldt connection with a
Robert Hyams cross.
The game ended 3-1, the Clan bouncing back in exciting fashion after Thursday night's loss.
With the win, SFU improve to 6-4-2 on the season and 4-2-2- in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
SFU is back in action on October 23, as they travel to Nampa, ID to face Northwest Nazarene.
Kick-off is at 4:00 p.m.