SEASIDE, Calif. ? In spite of the two squads combining for 52 fouls, 33 of which came in the second half, the UC San Diego men's soccer team managed to pull out a 2-1 road victory against Cal State Monterey Bay Sunday.
All three scores came in the first half and the Tritons survived an incredibly chippy final period to outlast the Otters. UCSD improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play while CSUMB dropped to 0-4-1 overall and 0-2 in league action. The last time the Tritons' men's soccer program has recorded a five-match winning streak came at the start of the 2000 campaign.
Freshman Scott MacBride (Atascadero, Calif.) knocked in the first score of the game during the 11th minute, rifling the ball from 15 yards out into the upper right corner of the net. MacBride entered Sunday with just one shot but has put together solid efforts at the forward position while starting all five games for UCSD.
A goal by CSUMB defender Nick McGill tied the contest at 1-1 in the 23rd minute, giving the home crowd a chance to get back into it.
Triton defender Aaron McDowell (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) silenced the Otter faithful though in the 37th minute, knocking home an unassisted score as he fired a rebound shot to the left far corner of the net. McDowell, while coming off the bench in each of UCSD's five contests, has now scored three goals to lead the team in that category. First-year head coach Jon Pascale's other “super sub,” Tony Fernandez,” totaled five shots ? including three on goal ? in Sunday's match against CSUMB and has two goals in 2008.
The defense of the Tritons tightened up in the second half, holding the Otters to just two shots. The feistiness also led to five cautions being assigned, including four on CSUMB, all in the final 50 minutes of the contest.
Pascale's squad returns to La Jolla to play their CCAA home opener on Wednesday against No. 7 Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7 p.m. The Toros have started 2008 undefeated at 7-0 and are coming off CCAA wins over CSUMB and San Francisco State.
