UCSD Men Settle for Scoreless Draw With SSU

October 1, 2016

LA JOLLA, Calif. - University of California San Diego and Sonoma State University played to a goalless deadlock in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men's soccer match Friday at Triton Soccer Stadium.

The result moved UC San Diego to 6-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the CCAA. The Tritons remain unbeaten at home at 6-0-1. Sonoma State, a winner of two straight heading in, both away from home, is now 3-2-4 overall and 3-1-1 in league play. The Seawolves are in the midst of a five-game road stretch.

Senior Cameron McElfresh compiled four saves in goal for UCSD in keeping his fifth individual clean sheet of 2016. The Tritons are statistically the top defensive team in the CCAA. Junior counterpart Mitch North had three stops for the Seawolves.

The Tritons doubled Sonoma State up in shots at 16-8, including a 10-3 bulge over the first 45 minutes, and had the better of the chances to break the stalemate. The visitors were not even credited with their first attempt until the 35:10 mark.

Redshirt junior striker Malek Bashti had arguably the best opportunity of all, right at the death late in regulation. Riley Harbour found fellow senior midfielder Nick Palano wide on the left, who crossed to the back post, where Bashti was just wide to the right of the target from close range with less than two minutes remaining.

In overtime, Harbour this time saw Christian Cordell on the right, and the sophomore sailed in a cross, but Palano was not able to make a connection.

McElfresh denied a Seawolf threat in the 79th, making a difficult save on a hard shot by Evan Roehrig. The Tritons had another nervous moment shortly thereafter as Gabriel D'Ambrosio crossed from the left, and junior left back Nolan Mac's clearance attempt went dangerously over his own crossbar for a corner kick.

UCSD is right back at home this Sunday, Oct. 2, hosting Humboldt State (3-5-1, 1-4 CCAA) at 11:30 a.m. The contest will start off another doubleheader with the eighth-ranked women's team (2 p.m.) at Triton Soccer Stadium. Parking and admission are free, with a live video stream, in high definition, on UCSDtritons.tv.

Triton Notes: UCSD had won the last two meetings between the sides in La Jolla, 1-0 in 2013 and 2-1 in double overtime in 2011 ... The Tritons are now at the exact midway point of their 18-game regular-season schedule ... Regulars Kyle Panganiban and Brett Sampiere remained unavailable for a third and eighth straight match, respectively ... Malek Bashti returned to the field following a three-match injury absence.

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