ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Aidan Sandoval scored 13 seconds into the match, the second-fastest goal in program history, but the Soka University men's soccer team fell 2–1 to Benedictine Mesa on Thursday, September 17, at Soka University.
Sandoval needed just one touch of the opening sequence, finishing off an assist from
Mateus Seiki Rosa to put the Lions in front 1–0 before most of the crowd had settled in. Soka nearly doubled the lead in the 19th minute when Sandoval's effort rang off the post.
Benedictine Mesa answered in the 20th minute through Ryder Skolka to level the match, then took the lead with one minute remaining in the first half on a goal from Pol Bistue.
Soka turned up the pressure after the break, earning five corner kicks in the second half alone to finish with a 5–4 edge in corners for the match.
Alex Soriano and Sandoval both tested Benedictine Mesa goalkeeper Charlie Shepherd in the 74th and 76th minutes, but the Lions were unable to find the equalizer.
Goalkeeper
Jacob Warren kept Soka within one throughout, making 5 saves, including three in the second half, as Benedictine Mesa finished with 17 shots to Soka's 4.
