Aug. 31, 2002

Final Stats

PORTLAND, Ore. - The seventh-ranked Washington men's soccer team began the 2002 season Saturday with a 2-2 result against Central Florida, preserving a tie despite playing two men short at the end of the first round game of the Nike Portland Invitational at Merlo Field.

Junior Seth Marsh and senior Zac Tallman netted goals for the Huskies (0-0-1) who rallied from one goal behind to take a 2-1 halftime margin. Central Florida (0-0-1) scored in the fourth minute of the second half. The two teams then played 62 minutes of scoreless soccer, including two 10-minute overtime periods before settling on a tie.

The Huskies were able to hold on for the tie despite losing sophomore Joe Birklid to a red card in the 88th minute. Senior Aaron Heinzen was sent off with a red card during the second overtime, leaving only nine players with less than two minutes to play.

UW junior goalkeeper Daniel Waltman registered all three of his saves in the second half to force overtime. Ryan McIntosh stopped five shots for the Knights who were outshot 18-13. The anxious Husky offense was stymied by 11 offside calls.

Washington has a second-round meeting on Monday against DePaul, a 6-0 loser to No. 15 Portland. The host Pilots entertain UCF in the other second-round matchup.

Eric Vasquez opened the scoring for UCF in the 10th-minute. He chipped a ball into the goal after receiving a through pass from Xavier Delgado that left him one-on-one with Waltman.

The Huskies equalized 10 minutes later as Marsh tapped in a cross from junior Patrick Tanner at 19:32. UW claimed the lead when Tallman converted a penalty kick at 26:06 after teammate Dayo Oyetuga was dragged down in the box. The Knights' Tobias Kronberger was whistled for the foul.

Central Florida tied the game permanently at 48:15, parlaying a corner kick situation into a goal. Vasquez booted a corner kick that was deflected away to Chris Beaulac who blasted it into the net from 17 yards out.

Following the Portland tournament, the Huskies return to Seattle for their home opener on Friday, Sept. 6 against Santa Clara. Kick-off is 7 p.m. at Husky Soccer Field.

NCAA Men's Soccer
Nike Portland Invitational
(#7) Washington 2, Central Florida 2 (2ot)
Merlo Field; Portland, Ore.

Scoring--1, UCF, Eric Vasquez (Xavier Delgado), 9:36. 2, UW, Seth Marsh (Patrick Tanner), 19:32. 3, UW, Zac Tallman (pk), 26:06. 4, UCF, Chris Beaulac (Vasquez), 48:15.

Shots - UCF 13, UW 18.
Saves - UCF 5 (Ryan McIntosh), UW 3 (Daniel Waltman)
Corner Kicks - UCF 5, UW 7.
Fouls - UCF 19, UW 12.
Offsides - UCF 1, UW 11.
Attendance - 700.