A breakout offensive game couldn't have come at a better time for The Master's University men's soccer team.
Lingering on the cusp of postseason elimination, the Mustangs responded Saturday afternoon with a season-high four goals in a 4-1 win over host Arizona Christian.
"Really proud that our offense kicked in today," said TMU head coach Jim Rickard. "ACU is very skilled and we had to fight all game long."
The victory vaulted the Mustangs over the Firestorm and into a three-way tie for fifth place in the GSAC.
The Mustangs have two conference games left before the GSAC Tournament starts on November 9.
Brayden Campos ignited the scoring outburst, tallying his fourth goal of the season just 8:03 into play. It was the club's first of nine shots on goals during the match.
Dylan Bielanski assisted on the goal, his third assist of the season.
Campos would be heard from again and again and again.
In the 35th minute (34:35), Luis Garcia Sosa made it a 2-0 game off an assist from Campos. It was Garcia Sosa's third goal of his senior season.
The two-goal margin stood up through halftime and into the second half before the Mustangs put the match away with two more scores in an 8:12 window.
The first of those came off the foot of Bielanski, who took a pass from Campos and put it past Firestorm goalie Josue Delgadillo for a 3-0 lead at 63:31.
It was Bielanski's team-high 10th goal of the campaign.
Then, just over eight minutes later (71:43), Garcia Sosa capped the afternoon's scoring, taking another pass from Campos and putting the ball between the pipes for his fourth goal of the year.
It was Garcia Sosa's first multi-goal outing of the season and the third of his career.
Campos' three assists were a career-high as were his five points in a match. He leads the squad with seven assists in 2019.
Price Anderson, in search of his sixth shutout, was denied that achievement when the Firestorm scored with 7:35 remaining on an Alex Segura shot.
Anderson finished with four saves.
The Mustangs finish the regular season next week, hoping not only to qualify for the postseason but claim as high a seed as possible for the conference tournament.
Next Wednesday, the Mustangs play at San Diego Christian and then host Ottawa of Arizona in the regular-season finale next Saturday on Reese Field.
"Nice to get back in the playoff hunt," said Rickard.
