BOX SCORE

SEASIDE, Calif. — It had to work overtime to do it, but the Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer team picked up its first win of 2012 by defeating Cal State East Bay 1–0 Sunday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex.

Senior forward Andrew Breault put a lid on the affair in the third minute of extra time, crashing hard to bundle the ball home after Pioneer goalkeeper Renee Martinez couldn't corral a long throw from CSUMB defender Dylan Niven.

“Today feels great,” said CSUMB Head coach Rob Cummings after the Otters notched victory No. 1 for the season on their collective belt. “The boys played well. Like all season, we've been in each and every game. It's just been unfortunate with some bounces.”

Unfortunate bounces once again appeared to be the theme for the day, as the Otter couldn't break through in a first half that featured mostly one way traffic towards the East Bay end. Otter midfielders often found wings and strikers making probing runs only to just miss connecting on critical passes.

Things seemingly went from bad to worse early in the second half when a Julian Salas shot created a hand ball in the box and a spot kick opportunity for the Otter sophomore in the 57th minute. Salas fooled Martinez, but his attempt squarely struck the left post to keep the match scoreless.

East Bay evened the play out for a decent stretch of back–and–forth action in the second half, putting three shots on frame in the period while forcing most of the Otter shots safely to the perimeter. Nevertheless, the Otters regained their possessional advantage as regulation wound down. They nearly ended the match in the waning moments when another long Niven throw made its way to Max Brixey at the top of the 18 inside the final five seconds. Brixey spun and fired but sent his effort over the bar as the final horn sounded.

Neither team had a chance to settle into overtime before an attack down the left flank forced a throw in deep in the Pioneer defensive third. Salas and Brixey created traffic in front and Martinez seemed tentative in his effort to parry or catch Niven's throw. With the Pioneer keeper unable to control the ball, Breault pounced on the doorstep and claimed the spoils for the home side in the 93rd minute.

“I kept telling the boys that if they kept plugging away good things were going to happen and we got a well–deserved win. “Now this allows us to get prepared for a long homestand with Chico and Stanislaus coming in next week.”