Oct. 3, 1998

SANTA CLARA, Calif.- The 18th-ranked Santa Clara men's soccer team improved their record to 7-2-1 with a dramatic 1-0 victory over the visiting 12th-ranked Maryland Terrapins Saturday evening at the Santa Clara Nike/Coca-Cola Classic. Santa Clara's lone goal of the match was scored by reserve forward Ari Rodopolous who headed in a Shawn Percell cross at 52:52 of the match.

This evening's game provided several fireworks for the fans as the two team combined for 25 shots, Santa Clara with 13 and Maryland with 12, while the two goalkeepers each recorded seven saves. Each team had several scoring opportunities but Santa Clara's David Alexander and Maryland's Christian Lewis kept both offenses at bay. But finally, Rodopolous ignited the crowd with his spectacular eight-yard header that beat Lewis to the far post. The goal was Rodopolous' seventh goal of the season.

The game took a turn in Maryland's favor at 63:14 as Bronco reserve forward Andoni Artiach received a red card for a flagrant tackle putting the Broncos down to 10 men. In the last 27 minutes of the contest, the Broncos repeatedly thwarted Maryland's pressure and finally preserved the victory as David Alexander scooped in a last second effort from midfield. Santa Clara improves to 7-2-1 with the victory while No. 12 Maryland falls to 7-3-0.

In Saturday's other match, Cal State Northrdige used two goals in the first six minutes to defeat the USF Dons 3-2. San Francisco fought back but could get no closer than 3-2 with just two minutes remaining. With the victory, Cal State Northridge wrapped up the championship for the Santa Clara Nike/Coca-Cola Classic.

Box Score:
Saturday, October 3, 1998
Buck Shaw Stadium - Santa Clara, CA

                1   2   -   F
San Francisco   1   1   -   2
CS Northridge   2   1   -   3         
Scoring Summary: CSN - Own Goal 3:28;
                 CSN - Diaz (Arroyo) 6:23;
				 USF - Pires 55:09;
				 CSN - Arroyo 57:31;
				 USF - Klevburg (Pires) 87:5
Shots: USF 17, CSN 7
Corner Kicks: USF 6, CSN 3
Saves: Vaughn (USF) 0; Perez (CSN) 4
Fouls: USF 15, CSN 16

Box Score:
Saturday, October 3, 1998
Buck Shaw Stadium - Santa Clara, CA

                      1   2   -   F
No. 18 Santa Clara    0   1   -   1
No. 12 Maryland       0   0   -   0         
Scoring Summary: SCU - Rodopolous (Percell) 52:52
Shots: SCU 13, UM 12
Corner Kicks: SCU 1, UM 6
Saves: Alexander (SCU) 7; Lewis (UM) 7
Fouls: SCU 19, UM 16
Attendance: 930
Records: Santa Clara 7-2-1, Maryland 7-3-0 

All-Tournament Team
Alexsander Akerjordet, USF
Fabio Pires, USF
Keith Beach, Maryland
Jason Cropley, Maryland
Adam Eyre, Santa Clara
Ari Rodopolous, Santa Clara
Mark Fitzpatrick, CS Northridge
Michael Preis, CS Northridge
Trevor Schmidt, CS Northridge

Defensive MVP: Michael Goehring, Santa Clara
Offensive MVP: Federico Arroyo, CS Northridge 

1st: CS Northridge
2nd: Santa Clara
3rd: Maryland
4th: USF