Rocklin, Cali.- A balanced opening GSAC match ultimately saw the Firestorm on the wrong end of a 3-2 game against the Jessup Warriors. Defender Tiago Soares gave ACU a 2-1 lead early in the second half with his second goal of the game, but two proceeding Jessup goals sealed their fate. Menlo awaits on Saturday, as the Firestorm look to rechannel success from last season's 6-1-2 record in GSAC play.

Score: Arizona Christian 2, Jessup University 3
Records:  Arizona Christian 5-4-0 (0-1-0) | Jessup University 6-3-2 (1-0-0)
Location: Warrior Field - Rocklin, CA

STAT TRACKER

Tiago Soares - 2 goals, 3 shots
Kaden Grub - 1 assist, 3 shots
Cristhian Flores - 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
Marlon Arce - 2 shots, 1 on goal
Santiago Ballesteros - 3 shots
Carlos Gallardo - 2 saves

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

Jessup's Diego Nunez recorded the first shot of the contest, but ACU's Marlon Arce sent in the game's first shot on target in the 14th minute as the Firestorm controlled things early. Goalkeeper Carlos Gallardo avoided the Warrior's first threat, Isaac Morfin's header nailing the crossbar. Only five minutes following this attempt, Tiago Soares blitzed by the Jessup defense and fired a ball into the back of the net for an unassisted goal. 

Over the next 13 minutes, the Firestorm were able to outshoot the Warriors 4-2 but neither team could manage a clean look. In the 38th minute, however, Jessup's Dylan Her was set up with a corner kick opportunity. The ball was served in to Albert Barillas who then found Maximus Ganesh on a touch pass for the tying goal. It remained a 1-1 game at the break.

A mere three minutes into the second period, Gallardo collected his first save of the match on a strike from Barillas. On ACU's proceeding possession, Jose Garcia found himself lining up a corner kick. Like the Warriors did earlier, the Firestorm capitalized on this opportunity. Kaden Grub got a touch and delivered a ball to Soares for his second goal of the match. 

ACU outshot Jessup 5-0 over the next 20 minutes of play, including shots on target by Garcia and Cristhian Flores. This energized push did not equate to another score, however, and the Warriors soon took advantage. Eduardo Guillen broke through the Firestorm back line and supplied Jessup with their second equalizing goal in the 71st minute.

Header attempts from Santiago Ballesteros and Arce came and went, as ACU searched for a third goal. The Firestorm were forced to play one man down the final eight minutes, Ballesteros receiving a late red card. This ultimately turned the tide and empowered Elisha Burbridge to find Paolo Ionescu for the eventual game-winning goal in the 84th minute. 

NEXT MATCH

The Firestorm will attempt to bounce back and level their GSAC record against Menlo College. Kickoff from Wunderlich Field is at 2:00 PM. Follow the action with live stats at http://naiastats.prestosports.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/boxscores/20230930_kssn.xml and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.   


Roll Storm!