The game was a back-and-forth battle for much of the first half with neither team being able to establish many chances to score. The scoreless game was broken in the 39th minute when the Cougars were awarded a penalty kick. The Cougars’ midfielder scored the penalty kick, which ended the first half 0-1 for the CSUSM.

The Celts worked hard in the beginning of the second half, but were not always composed. UST dug in and fought hard, but missed an opportunity just minutes later to equalize the score. The Cougars took advantage of being up a man, and scored the final goal of the match in the 60th minute. The Celts never quit and kept fighting till the final whistle.

Junior Jad El-Masri led UST with 4 shots in the match, and junior Lukas Simon finished with 7 saves.

“The team showed steady improvement throughout the year,” said Aaron Champenoy, UST head soccer coach. “I am very proud of this group of young men. They have sacrificed a lot over the last four months and continued to push this program every year. We will miss our seniors – Armen Allahverdian and Colin Moe – who gave a lot to this team for the last three year.”

The team was also able to experience more of the country with a visit to the Grand Canyon National Park. The group drove three hours, but made a stop to enjoy the snow near Flagstaff, Ariz. Champenoy said the landscape of the snow and the Grand Canyon left the team in awe, and the Canyon will be an unforgettable experience for these young men.