Pac-12 battle destined for a tie

[STANFORD-CALIFORNIA: Men] Zach Batteer‘s goal in the 76th minute earned No. 5 Stanford a 1-1 tie with No. 14 California ina battle of Bay Area Pac-12 rivals. The match drew 51 shots, 35 by the Cardinal.

“Tonight was truly an exciting game and the players from both sides can be really proud of the waythey performed,” Stanford head coach Jeremy Gunn said. “I thought our guys were magnificent. It’s a tie game against another great team –Pac-12 soccer at the moment –– and we move forward again.”

It didn’t look good for Stanford early on as Jose Carerra-Garciascored on the Golden Bears’ first shot in the seventh minute. Connor Hallisey started the combination by serving the ball across the goal to Max Oldham, who laid it off with his head to Carerra-Garcia, who put home his second of the season.
 
Stanford pressed for an equalizer afterintermission. In the 50th minute, an Eric Verso header hit the crossbar. Brian Nana-Sinkam was in place to hammer homethe deflection, but his chance hit a wall of Bears in front of goal.

In the 68th minute, Foster Langsdorf forced Cal’s Justin Taillole to make a monster save with a blast from close range.
 
On the equalizer, a loose ball bounced around in the area and Batteer beatCal defenders to the ball, blocking it with his chest and into the goal.
 
The best chance in overtime went to Bobby Edwards, who let fly ashot in the 98th and hammered the top of the goal.

Both goalkeepers had career highs for saves: Cal’s Taillole with 13 and Andrew Epsteinwith six for the Cardinal.

“It was a hard-fought match tonight,” said Cal coach Kevin Grimes. “It was a game where bothteams left every ounce of energy out on the field. I think both teams will look back at the game and might wish that the result had gone one way or the other, but it seemed like tonight might havebeen destined for a draw.”