On a cold night at Ed Lloyd Field Cardinal Newman went toe-to-toe with a good San Marin squad and played to a 1-1 tie.  

San Marin came out hot and controlled the ball much of the first half, but the Newman defense stepped up each time and turned away the Mustangs. Keeper Amiel Mengistab made a few nice saves but the Cardinals were having trouble attacking the San Marin defense.
 
Toward the end of the half a slight momentum change saw Newman get off a couple shots and earn a few corners but the score remained 0-0 at the break, with San Marin out shooting CN 6-2.

Things opened up more in the second half and Newman played well, controlling  the midfield and getting off several good shots.

Still at zeros and getting late a free ball approached the Newman box, Mengistab raced out to grab it just ahead of a San Marin attacker but stepped a toe out of the box resulting in a direct free kick.

Senior Walden Diaz sent it high and off the cross bar but the ball bounced in front where Kyle Garcia headed in the net for a 1-0 San Marin lead. 

Newman would rally late.  With less than 2 minutes ot play, Giovanni Dimauro was awarded a free kick after a foul and he hit it beautifully toward the  box where Jude Stone one timed it with a perfect header for the equalizer.


Newman is now 3-1-2 on the year. The Cardinals get a break now and return to the pitch on January 6 when Piedmont comes to town.