Menlo News
Men's Soccer - Tue, Oct 27, 2009
Box Score
ATHERTON, Calif. - Michael Pessah scored a pair of long range efforts in the opening half hour to spark Menlo College to a 3-1 win over Bethany in California Pacific Conference play on Tuesday afternoon at Wunderlich Field.

Pessah, who missed seven games with a broken toe before returning two weeks ago, got his senior campaign back on track with his first goal of the season in the 13th minute. The midfielder found space at the top of the penalty box and let fly with a shot that gave Bethany goalkeeper Doug Crawford no chance as it sailed into the top corner of the goal.

 

The Oaks were in control from the start and pushed the visiting Bruins into a deeper hole in the 28th minute thanks to another Pessah finish following a bit of magic from freshman Enrique Fernandez. Fernandez toyed with the Bruins defense, working his way from near the end line back toward the outer left side of the penalty box, drawing a number of defenders in before passing to an open Pessah. The senior took the pass and did the most he could with the space Fernandez provided, using one touch to set up a shot that found the back of the net from almost the same spot as his opener.

 

Menlo took a 2-0 lead into halftime that was even more convincing than even a two-goal advantage would normally indicate.

 

In the 66th minute, the Oaks put the match on ice. Freshman Carlos Ramirez sent a perfect through ball on the ground to a racing Cesar Garcia, who toed the ball by Crawford and into the net. It was 3-0 and there was no way back for Bethany.

 

Menlo did give the Bruins an opening in the 73rd minute, though it was a small one. Matheus Barbosa was fouled just inside the penalty box and was awarded a penalty kick. Gabriel Cassaro stepped up for the attempt and rolled it into the right side of the goal for the Bruins breakthrough. The Oaks lead was trimmed to 3-1 with just under 20 minutes to go.

 

Bethany pushed for a second goal that really would've unnerved Menlo, but never found it. Oaks goalkeeper Pat Conte raced out of the box on a number of occasions to turn back Bruins forays into the Menlo half and finished with four saves, including one gravity-defying stop of Cassaro in which he dove to parry the ball to himself in mid-air.

 

Menlo improves to 5-4 in the Cal Pac and 5-10 overall with the victory. The Oaks return to action next Wednesday at Pacific Union. Bethany is 2-6 in conference and 3-8 overall.