HOUSTON — Junior forward
Tyler Cash scored a curling long-range goal in the 84th minute on Thursday night to give UC San Diego men's soccer a 1-0 victory on the road at Houston Christian.
The Tritons' first road match of 2026 was not without its hiccups, as a weather delay pushed the start time back nearly 90 minutes. The contest did not get underway until nearly 9:00 p.m. local time.
UC San Diego moved to 2-0-0 on the young season, with the host Huskies falling to 1-2-0.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The two sides started slow after the late kickoff, with neither team generating a promising chance in the first half. HCU had six shots in the first, but only one was on frame. The Tritons had two shots, with both on target.
Ryan Namdar had one in the 31st minute, followed by
Adam Dunbar in the 42nd.
HCU had four corner kicks before the break, with the Tritons taking three. Both teams struggled with their set piece delivery thanks to heavy winds throughout the match.
The start of the second half was also delayed, this time due to the stadium lights automatically turning off during halftime due to the match's late start. But that delay did not slow down the action, with the match much more lively after the break.
Jack Nishimoto and
Gavin Allegaert each had a shot on goal for the Tritons just two minutes into the second half.
UC San Diego was on the front foot for the rest of the contest, taking 11 second-half shots. Six of those were on target. The Triton defense held HCU to just one shot on goal after halftime.
Namdar had a pair of good looks as the match wore on, including a shot that hit the post in the 81st minute after a cross from Cash. Namdar also got a shot off on the ensuing rebound, with that effort saved by the Husky goalkeeper.
The game-winner then saw Namdar return the favor and set up Cash just three minutes later.
Liam Zubak stepped in front of an HCU pass in the defensive third before feeding the ball up to Namdar around midfield. He played a long switch to Cash, who was streaking down the left wing. Cash cut inside onto his right foot, with his long-range effort ripping into the far corner for his second goal of the season.
HCU's only chance after the Triton goal came on a corner kick with just under one minute left. A headed shot fell harmlessly into the side netting, bringing the match to its 1-0 final.
TRITON TIDBITS
- The Tritons picked up their first road win since Oct. 11, 2023.
- Matias Mott made his collegiate debut, playing 44 minutes off the bench.
- UC San Diego's starting lineup was unchanged from the season opener.
QUOTABLE
"It was a great team win tonight against a good team under difficult conditions," head coach
Jon Pascale said. "We created a number of great chances, and Tyler's goal was a thing of beauty. The team also defended well and gave up very little. We are excited to get to Colorado to keep it going. Sunday's match will take another massive effort, but I am confident the boys will be up for the challenge."
UP NEXT
The Tritons face Air Force this Sunday, Aug. 30, at 11:00 a.m. PT. The match will be broadcast on MW+.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
