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Forward Said Karimzad - MenloOaksSports.com
Men's Soccer - Tue, Nov 10, 2009
Box Score
ATHERTON, Calif. - Senior forward Said Karimzad and the rest of the Menlo College squad saved some of its best soccer for the last day of the season, defeating Simpson 4-0 in California Pacific Conference play at Wunderlich Field on Tuesday afternoon.
 

Karimzad got things started on the right foot for the Oaks, netting a brace in the opening 28 minutes and Menlo never looked back. Senior defender Dominic Mitchell got into the scoring act late in the match after freshman Carlos Ramirez put the Oaks up 3-0 at halftime.

 

A great piece of teamwork got the Oaks on the board early. In the eight minute, senior Cesar Garcia used space on the left wing to cross a ball to the far post that fellow senior Sergio Aguayo headed down toward the middle of the goal where Karimzad was waiting to tap the ball into the net in completion of a beautiful one-two-three.

 

Just less than 20 minutes later Karimzad struck again, but didn't need any help. He started on the left wing, turning the corner on his defender and entering the box near the endline. Rather than force a pass through the goal box, Karimzad dribbled through three defenders, cutting the back just far enough from the mouth of the goal to give himself room to smash the ball inside the near post and into the net from a tight angle. It was 2-0 Menlo in the 28th minute following Karimzad's stunning tally.

 

The Oaks toyed with Simpson for much of the rest of the half, eventually putting a third on the Red Hawks in the 38th minute. Senior midfielder Michael Pessah lofted a perfect cross in front of the goal that met the foot of freshman forward Carlos Ramirez before Simpson goalkeeper Matt Deacon could get to the ball. Ramirez touched the ball into the net from close range for the Oaks third.

 

Even though Menlo controlled the match in the second half as well, it wasn't until the 73rd minute that the Oaks put an emphatic final stamp on affairs. Garcia took a quick free kick from near the left touchline that an onrushing Mitchell drilled into the top of the net with a header at the far post.

 

Menlo finished with 14 shots to Simpson's seven and put nine on goal compared to two for the visitors. Goalkeeper Pat Conte was his usual active self, racing around the penalty area, though he was forced into just a pair of saves.

 

The Oaks finish the season 7-5 in the Cal Pac - just one point out of third place - and 7-11 overall. Simpson is 3-8 in conference and 3-11 overall.