March 4, 2012

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SANTA MARIA, Calif - Starting seven freshmen, California lost, 2-0, to the Mexico Under-20 Men's National Team in a spring friendly on March 3 at the Ernest Righetti High School Stadium.

Mexico, which took third place at last summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup, scored twice in the first half against the Golden Bears. The first goal came on a penalty kick in the 12th minute, and Mexico netted the second in the 25th minute.

Cal freshman defender Christian Dean - himself a U.S. U-20 MNT player - hit the Mexico goalpost with a free kick in the 85th minute. The Bears had other opportunities, including sophomore Alec Sundly's missed attempt after collecting a rebound in the first half and Sundly's breakaway chance in the second half that was saved. Junior forward Michael Munoz went one-on-one with the Mexico goalkeeper in the 80th minute but shot over the crossbar.

"Games like this provide valuable experience for our team," Cal head coach Kevin Grimes. "We started seven freshmen tonight, and for them to be pushed to their limits by Mexico was great."