Cal Comes Back To Tie UCSD

SAN DIEGO – Fahmi Ibrahim scored his second goal of the young season as the Cal men's soccer team tied UC San Diego, 1-1, on a warm Sunday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.
 
The Golden Bears picked up another point from their third consecutive 1-1 tie, which left them with a 0-1-3 record. Cal also ended UCSD's three-game winning streak; the Tritons are now 3-0-1.
 
"We're knocking on the door for our first victory," Cal head coach Leonard Griffin said. "There were a lot of good pieces to our game tonight. This was one of our more complete games. The hardest thing to do in soccer is score goals. We saw the urgency we had in the second half, and we have to build on that momentum to become more goal dangerous."
 
Cal held much of the possession in the first half, when the Bears outshot the Tritons, 4-3. UCSD attacked more frequently in the second half, yet the Bears outshot the home team, 8-2, in the final 45 minutes.
 
The game turned at the 70:17 mark, as UCSD was awarded a penalty kick. Alessandro Allen converted the PK on the Tritons' only shot on goal of the game.
 
Cal rallied quickly, and Ibrahim scored off a 20-yard blast at 71:33 to tie the game. The senior forward now leads the Bears in goals (2) and points (4).
 
"It was a great play for him – finding some space and executing on a shot from good distance," Griffin said. "We know what he can do in the final third, and I was happy to see his reaction on that play."
 
The rest of the match produced three shots, with Cal recording two of them – including a Cameron Robie effort saved by UCSD goalkeeper Dominic Peters in the 82nd minute. Cal midfielder Adrian Guzman had the last, best chance of the game – a screamer from about 22 yards that went just wide of the goal.
 
Added Griffin, whose Bears have played three of their first four games of the season on the road, "We're looking forward to getting back to Edwards Stadium and Goldman Field and putting on a good show for the fans back in Berkeley. "
 
The Bears next play at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, when they host California Baptist.