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Utah Tech University Athletics

DSU header
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics
1
Dixie State DX-MS (1-10-1, 1-7 PacWest)
2
Winner Azusa Pacific APU-MS (10-2, 7-1 PacWest)
Dixie State DX-MS
(1-10-1, 1-7 PacWest)
1
Final
2
Azusa Pacific APU-MS
(10-2, 7-1 PacWest)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Dixie State DX-MS 0 1 0 1
Azusa Pacific APU-MS 1 0 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | John Potter, Media Relations Assistant

DSU dealt tough loss on PK golden goal

Storm battle in loss at Azusa Pacific

AZUSA, Calif. – When a team wins a match in overtime, usually the club and its fans cheer loudly. Eerily on Thursday, nobody exploded into celebration after Azusa Pacific netted a penalty kick in overtime to defeat Dixie State, 2-1.
 
The golden goal at the Cougar Soccer Complex came after a handball foul was called on DSU's Michael Ropelato (Roy, UT/Roy) inside the box. APU (10-2, 7-1 PacWest) capitalized on its PK attempt and respectfully shook hands with the members of the Red Storm (1-10-1, 1-7 PacWest).
 
"I am heartbroken for the guys," Dixie State head coach Danny Ortiz said. "We put together a great game plan and the guys made all the adjustments we asked them to do. We feel it was taken away from us in the end."
 
The Cougars 21-4 outshot Dixie State in the match, but that was something Ortiz and team expected.
 
"We knew they would get a lot of shots," Ortiz said. "Our guys limited them and made sure a lot of the shots were low quality."
 
APU took a 1-0 lead in the first half placing a crossing pass into the back of the net.
 
At halftime, the team made small tweaks to their game plan and stayed in the match despite their limited opportunities. Jorge Echavarria (Las Vegas, NV/Sierra Vista) tied the match in the 53rd minute. He found a loose ball in the Cougar defensive third and headed home his team-leading third goal of the year.
 
"We did what we needed to do and had chances late in regulation," Ortiz said.
 
Santiago Alejandro (Oakley, CA/Alhambra) had a choice look with 10 minutes left, but shot it wide. APU responded in the final five minutes with four quick opportunities included one that hit the post. Freshman goalkeeper Eddie Ortiz (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron) was kept busy all night and made four saves against a tenacious APU offense. His coach applauded his play.
 
"Eddie made great saves tonight and kept us in the match," he said.
 
Despite the losing outcome, DSU felt they once again competed well enough to win against the fourth-ranked team in the West region.
 
Echavarria led DSU with two shots while Alejandro and Bryan Baugh (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) each had one.
 
Dixie State continues a weekend trip in the Golden State on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT  facing Point Loma in San Diego.
 
 
 
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