TACOMA, Wash. - Junior Kyle Benson (Mukilteo, Wash./Kamiak) scored the first goal of the game, and the first goal of the season for Puget Sound early in the second half but a tough UC Santa Cruz team battled back, answering with two of their own as the Banana Slugs took a 2-1 overtime win over the Loggers in a NCAA Division III men's soccer game on Tuesday evening on Peyton Field at Baker Stadium in Tacoma, Wash.

After a scoreless first half, senior Alex Lehecka (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) floated a high cross over the goal area in the 57th minute to a waiting Benson, who placed the ball perfectly in the upper right corner for a 1-0 Puget Sound lead.  The Logger defense did their best to keep the Slugs away from the goal but UCSC snuck through in the 69th minute when Daniel Seltzer corralled the rebound off the crossbar following a shot by Matt Fondy and Seltzer put the ball in the net to tie the game a 1-1.

In overtime, the Slugs came out quick, pushing the ball up field, culminating in the winning shot from Benjamin Middlemiss that snuck past Logger keeper Greg Saetrum (Boise, Idaho/Timberline).  The game was very evenly played, with UCSC just edging out Puget Sound in shots, 11 to 10.  The match was also very physical, with 28 fouls called and four yellow cards issues, two to each squad.

Matt Pereira made three saves to earn the win for UC Santa Cruz.  Saetrum made two saves, allowing the two goals, to take the loss for the Loggers.

Puget Sound hits the road this weekend as they travel to the Hawkeye State for three matches against members of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  The road trip begins on Friday at Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Box Score