Air Force Academy
UC Riverside
Esparza's Goal Lifts Air Force to OT Win
9/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Box Score in PDF 
USAFA, Colo. - Senior defender AJ Esparza found an opening on the goalkeeper deflection to lift the Falcons to a 2-1 overtime victory over UC Riverside, Sunday, Sept. 11, at Cadet Soccer Stadium, USAFA. Air Force opened their home slate with two victories over the weekend as they improve to 3-2 on the season. UC Riverside drops to 2-3 following losses from the University of Denver and Air Force.
In the 48th minute the Highlanders' Ricardo Ruiz returned a goalkeeper deflection into the net for the first goal of the game. The Falcons battled back; in the 64th minute Ryan Ward sent the ball across the box to be met with Klint Parker's header from five yards out for his second goal of the season.
"It was unfortunate to go down one goal but the guys showed a lot of character to get back in it," said head coach Doug Hill. "We were able to find players in behind their line and get some good crosses and opportunities for shots."
After several shot attempts and a denied UC Riverside penalty kick the teams ended regulation play knotted at one. Air Force out shot UC Riverside 11 shots to the Highlanders' six in regulation. Junior goalkeeper John Wendt logged two saves.
"I was very pleased with the way we dominated on the field and kept the possessions," Hill continued. "We did a great job staying tight with them defensively; Trey Pujats did an awesome job marking their key player throughout the game and that certainly had an effect on the outcome."
The Falcons went on the offensive in overtime as they controlled possession of the ball for the entirety of the period. In the 92nd minute Esparza found his chance to end the game with a shot into the lower left corner of the goal off the goalkeeper's deflection. The goal marked Esparza's first of the season.
Parker and Esparza led the team in shots on goal with two apiece while sophomore forward Austin Dewing took three shots on the day.
Next week, the Falcons return to the road as they travel to the Golden State to take on St. Mary's on Sept. 16, in Moraga, Calif., and San Francisco on Sept. 18, in San Francisco, Calif.
