LA JOLLA, Calif. - Uly de la Cal's goal from near the end line in the 58th minute gave the UC San Diego men's soccer team a critical 1-0 triumph over rival Cal Poly Pomona in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener for both sides at Triton Soccer Stadium on Friday night.
With the win, UCSD evened its overall record at 2-2-2, and is off to a 1-0 start in the CCAA. The Tritons were playing for just the second time in La Jolla for 2015, after Tuesday night's intended showdown with crosstown foe Point Loma was postponed due to inclement weather. CPP, which was receiving votes just outside of Tuesday's latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) top-25 poll, suffered its first defeat and dropped to 3-1-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.
The decisive sequence began when freshman Brandon Monteiro Magpayo, making his third straight start, pressured junior Bronco defender Leonel Espinoza into a turnover in the corner. Junior midfielder Riley Harbour intercepted for UCSD and knocked a left-footed ball ahead on the left side that de la Cal ran onto. Just before reaching the end line, the Triton sophomore hit a left-footed shot that squirted through the CPP goalkeeper at the near post despite getting his hands on it, and into the opposite netting. It was de la Cal's second goal of the season and first from open play, having previously converted a penalty kick. The tally would prove to also be the Riverside product's first career game-winner. Harbour was credited with his team-leading second assist.
Redshirt junior Cameron McElfresh was called upon to make just one save for UCSD in notching his second shutout of 2015, both in 1-0 decisions at home, and 14th of his career. Senior Fernando Pablo Quevedo also had just one stop for CPP.
The teams combined for only three shots on target, with the Broncos posting an 11-4 advantage all told for the night. The Tritons were also held without a corner kick.
UCSD continues both conference play, and a season-long four-match homestand, this Sunday night, Sept. 20, hosting Cal State San Bernardino. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is slated for 7 p.m., with the women's teams starting things off at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
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