Dhillon sends PSA Elite to 4th round of US Open Cup

A little like college baseball players who go away to play in summer leagues, college soccer players who are good enough often play for clubs during the offseason.

On Wednesday evening in Ventura, Justin Dhillon entered the game in the 79th minute of a tie US Open Cup third round match. Less than 30 seconds later, he had a game winning goal that will send his team, PSA Elite, into the fourth round to play the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center.

Justin Dhillon will be an upperclassman on a talented Cal Poly soccer team next season. By Owen Main

Dhillon’s strike came off a long free kick that his teammate was able to settle and feed to him. After one quick touch, the winger from Tesoro high school popped a left footed shot into the back of the net. Dhillon, who will be a junior at Cal Poly next season, slotted the game-winner past incoming UCSB goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg of the Ventura County Fusion for the game winner.

In the second round, Cal Poly midfielder Matt LaGrassa’s strike placed the Fusion on the winning side against the USL’s LA Galaxy II, a professional side that included former Mustang Ari Lassiter. On Wednesday, it was his teammate Dhillon who ended Ventura County’s US Open Cup run.

Also on the PSA Elite side that will play against the LA Galaxy is Cal Poly keeper Wade Hamilton. Hamilton made a few diving saves during the game to help keep PSA Elite in the match.