Earthquake Goal in Overtime Drops California Kickers

San Jose Earthquake forward Bill Wiskel converted a miss-hit by teammate Joseph Mihaljeuvic into the biggest hit of a long day Sunday, smashing the errantly rolling ball into the goal from 10 yards to give his team a 3-2 sudden-death victory over the California Kickers.

The winning kick, booted past goalie David Jacques, came five minutes into the overtime before an estimated crowd of 350 at North Campus Stadium in Northridge.

San Jose, in winning its season opener, dropped California to 1-1 in the Western Soccer Alliance.

Kicker midfielder Lewis Garcia scored the game’s opening goal in the first half, off an assist by Joey Kirk. This spring, Kirk is splitting his time between the Kickers and the U.S. national team. He will return this fall to Cal State Northridge to complete his senior season.

Goals by Mihaljeuvic and Jadir Henricque put San Jose ahead in the second half. Then, with just 40 seconds to play in regulation, former Matador Scott Murray tied the score with a goal off a deflection from 20 yards.