Club goalie saves the day, UCSB beats Mexico U-20

David Flores, a goalkeeper on the UCSB club team, made a name for himself with the school’s national powerhouse intercollegiate squad Tuesday night.

Flores blocked the final shot in a penalty-kick shootout to give the Gauchos a 5-4 victory over Mexico’s under-20 national team in an international exhibition match at Harder Stadium. The teams battled to a 1-1 tie during regulation time.

After Joe Eubanks converted to give the Gauchos the lead, Flores stopped the left-footed drive of Omar Salgado to clinch the shootout win. Flores was filling in for Big West goalkeeper of the year Sam Hayden, who had shoulder surgery following last season.

Mexico had a chance to win the shootout after its goalkeeper, Diego Avila, saved the shot by UCSB’s Charlie Pettys in the fifth round, but El Tri’s Cesar Ibanez pulled his low shot wide of the goal.

The teams scored on their first four shots. Christian Ramirez, David Ponce, Vincent Alvarez and Christian Dahlskog converted for the Gauchos. Mexico’s goal scorers were Erick Vera, Victor Mañon, Miguel Basulto and Alan Zamora.

UCSB, which is just starting its spring season, took a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute on a goal by Luis Silva. He got the ball on the right side of the penalty area and ripped a shot past Avila.

Flores made a save on a point-blank shot by Taufic Gaurch in the 52nd minute to keep the Gauchos in the lead.

The game turned ugly during the middle of the second half. Mexico’s Edson Rivera was given a red card after throwing a vicious elbow to the face of Gaucho Robbie Hoyle. There were several other instances in which players squared off or shoved each other.

UCSB’s man advantage didn’t last long as playmaking midfielder Danny Barrera was booked with his second yellow card and ejected. That left the teams even with 10 players a side.

Once Mexico decided to play soccer, it controlled the majority of the possession and pressured the Gaucho defense. The Mexicans eventually equalized on an own goal in the 75th minute. Vera struck a brilliant free kick from 24 yards that skipped off the top of Peter McGlynn’s head and into the UCSB net.

The game, which was not well-publicized in the community by the event promoter, was a benefit for earthquake relief in Haiti. It drew a crowd of 360.