Clark and Bernardi lead Cal Poly to comeback win over Harvard

Mustangs goal keeper Chase Hauser makes a flying attempt to punch the ball out of danger. After giving up a first-half goal, the Mustangs came back to defeat the Crimson 2-1. Photo by David Livingston

Cal Poly forward Ian Clark did not start the Mustangs’ first ever match with Ivy League visitor Harvard. While Clark was only on the field for 28 minutes at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Friday night, his contribution helped turn a one-goal defecit into a 2-1 Cal Poly victory in front of a season-high home crowd of 3,592.

The Mustang faithful were put on their heels in the first half. Zach Wolfenson dribbled around three Cal Poly defenders and slid a shot past Cal Poly keeper Chase Hauser. It was the first time Cal Poly had been behind in 388 minutes. The last time the Mustangs were down in a game was August 26 during their 2-0 loss at Washington. Since then, the Mustangs have won five in a row, including the first four of a five-game homestand.

In the 33rd minute, Harvard keeper Evan Mendez was issued a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty box. With the backup keeper on the field, Clark struck a goal (his 2nd of the season) in the 53rd minute on a cross from George Malki. In the 73rd minute, Chris Bernardi blasted his 3rd goal of the season off a pass from Chase Minter. Bernardi’s strike turned out to be the game-winner.

The final game of the Mustangs’ five-game homestand is tomorrow (Sunday) at 4:00 pm at Alex G. Spanos Stadium against 12th-ranked UCLA. The Bruins tied 3rd-ranked UCSB on Friday night 1-1. The UCLA game will mark the finale of the Nike Central Coast Challenge.

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