Atherton, Cali.- The Firestorm were shut down offensively in their second conference game, as Menlo used two second period goals to hand ACU a 2-1 loss. Marlon Arce scored the match's first goal late in the first period, thanks to an assist from Aiden Abbitt, but it was all the Firestorm could produce. With the loss, ACU falls to 0-2 in GSAC play and a .500 winning percentage. 

Score: Arizona Christian 1, Menlo College 2
Records:  Arizona Christian 5-5-0 (0-2-0) | Menlo College 5-0-4 (2-0-0)
Location: Wunderlich Field - Atherton, CA

STAT TRACKER

Marlon Arce - 1 goal, 2 shots on goal
Aiden Abbitt - 1 assist
Kaden Grub - 1 shot on goal
Carlos Gallardo - 10 saves

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

As was a theme for a majority of the contest, Menlo controlled possession and dictated how things would go. Carlos Gallardo was put under fire early, and he held strong against three shots on goal in the first 18 minutes of play. The next four minutes were no kinder to Gallardo or the Firestorm back line, as four more shots were taken by the Oaks. Disaster avoided, ACU was able to keep Menlo in between the 20-yard lines for the next several possessions.

Gallardo absorbed his fifth and sixth saves before the Firestorm sniffed a scoring opportunity. Aiden Abbitt seemed to solve the puzzle that was the Menlo defense, and delivered a ball to the feet of Marlon Arce who directed a strike into the back of the net. On their first shot of the match, ACU stole a 1-0 lead just prior to the end of the first period.

Arce's fifth goal of the season gave the Firestorm life, but the Oaks' persistence soon paid off. Menlo again bombarded Gallardo and Firestorm defenders, including Jake Underwood and Janne Hintze, with four shots in the early moments of the second half. The inability to sustain an offensive attack eventually left the door open, and Menlo's Roy Rosenberg pinpointed Johan Mendoza Aguilar for an equalizing goal. 

A quick four minutes later, Menlo's Mattia Celant and Levin Ledergerber launched two on-target shots, both of which Gallardo sent packing. However, Ledergerber's miss redirected right to Mendoza Aguilar who blew a ball past an off-balance Gallardo for the go-ahead score. Arce was poised to respond, as he got a clean look on the Firestorm's next possession, but the Oaks goalie Jo Krumsvik held firm.

ACU was unable to generate many scoring attempts in the final 30 minutes of play. Their lone scare to Krumsvik came with 40 seconds remaining, as Kaden Grub's effort to manufacture a tying score was denied. The Firestorm ended up with three shots to the Oaks' 23.

NEXT MATCH

The Firestorm will play their second to last road game of 2023 when they travel to nearby Surprise for a meeting with OUAZ. Both teams will be looking to seize their first GSAC win this season, with kickoff next Thursday at 8:00 PM. Follow the action with live stats at https://ouazspirit.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary and watch the game at https://www.gsacsportsnetwork.com/azchristian/.   


Roll Storm!