Beavers Top UCLA 4-3 in Thriller

CORVALLIS – The Oregon State men's soccer team overcame a two-goal deficit to take down No. 23 UCLA 4-3 Thursday evening at Lorenz Field.
 
The Beavers trailed 3-1 in the 65th minute, but found the net three times in a stretch of just over three minutes to secure the victory.
 
"We come away with this match with overwhelming pride in this group of young men," said Oregon State head coach Terry Boss. "I thought in the first half they played really well, just didn't do what we needed to in the critical moments. But this group never gave up – they continued to do what we asked and they never stopped playing. The resiliency, the fight, the collectiveness, I couldn't be more proud of this group."
 
Adrian Molina-Diaz scored two goals and tallied an assist in the contest. Tyrone Mondi scored his fourth of the season, while Sofiane Djeffal also scored in the contest.
 
Oregon State out-shot UCLA 16-9 in the contest.
 
Neither side was able to create a clear-cut scoring chance in the early going. Djibril Rodet forced the first save of the match in the 19th minute, calling the keeper into action from a tight angle. Djeffal followed that up by curling one just wide on a free kick less than a minute later.
 
Molina-Diaz opened the scoring the 23rd minute, hammering one home from close range off a cross from Adrian Crespo. UCLA leveled the score 10 minutes later, as a pass through the box eluded numerous players before being slotted home from 10 yards out.
 
The Bruins scored a second in the 36th minute to head into the break up 2-1.
 
Crespo looked as though he might level the score early in the second half, but his effort flew into the side netting outside the post. Djeffal forced a save on a 55th-minute header, as the Beavers continued to threaten the UCLA goal.
 
The Bruins brought the advantage to 3-1 in the 63rd, converting on a counter-attack.
 
Oregon State struck back with three goals in a stretch of just over three minutes to regain the advantage. Mondi converted in the 65th in a nice interchange with Molina-Diaz. Molina-Diaz followed that up with his second goal of the night just a minute later, dribbling past a number of UCLA defenders to get in on goal. Djeffal closed out the scoring run by putting home a rebound off a shot from Mouhameth Thiam to put OSU in front.
 
Both sides created chances late on, as the match went end-to-end in the closing minutes, but the Oregon State defense was able to lock down the Bruins to secure the victory.
 
The Beavers will host San Diego State Sunday at Lorenz Field.
 
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