No. 21 UCSD Men Out-Class Rival Toros, 3-0

October 16, 2016

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 21st-ranked University of California San Diego men's soccer team put together a masterful performance in downing Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-0, on Senior Day Sunday at Triton Soccer Stadium.

This rivalry has tended to produce some tense, tight editions over the years, but this wasn't one of them, as ninth-year head coach Jon Pascale's men were classy throughout, and simply out-classed the visiting Toros.

A fifth consecutive victory moved UC San Diego into sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings. When the Tritons (11-1-2, 6-1-1 CCAA) took the pitch just nine days ago in San Francisco, they were tied for eighth in the table. Sunday's result meant UCSD completed its 10-game regular-season home schedule an unbeaten 9-0-1. The Tritons are 6-0-1 over their last seven. The Toros, on the other hand, have dropped three of four and are now 8-5-1 overall and 5-3 in league play.

A third successive shutout lowered UCSD's nation-leading goals-against average even further down to 0.27.

A fast-paced, entertaining first half with plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides featured a single goal, at exactly the 26:00 mark, but what a goal it was.

UCSD earned a free kick on the right diagonal through a Toro foul. Junior striker Uly de la Cal played it short, and seemingly caught the opposing defense off guard a little bit. Senior winger Nick Palano took the pass and delivered a cross from the right edge of the penalty box, toward the far post. That's where Christian Cordell went horizontal for arguably the goal of his life, and/or his team's goal of the year. With his back to the target, the sophomore produced what was probably about a three-quarters bicycle kick, and at minimum was a scissor-kick volley, straight into the left side of the net. Cordell's third goal of 2016 proved to be his second game-winner, with Palano and de la Cal picking up their first and third assists, respectively.

The second period saw the Tritons do what they have been able to do with increasing dependability as they've extended this run of strong play, and that is to manage the game and see the result out, allowing nary a chance for the visitors to get back on level terms. To boot, UCSD came up with two more goals on its end.

Within the first five minutes, the Tritons picked up another free kick via Toro foul, this one right around midfield on the left flank. Junior left back Nolan Mac played it forward, with the sequence ultimately leading to senior forward Sam Palano's hard, right-footed shot from the left diagonal. CSUDH goalkeeper Chase Gentry made the save, but was only able to parry it to the opposite side, where junior winger Zachary Lagotta (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic HS) was first to pounce, powering a first-touch rebound effort into the right-side netting for his first goal of the season. Palano was credited with his sixth assist, lifting him into a tie for the team lead.

The 2-0 advantage would have been enough, but the Tritons put the cherry on top in the 83rd minute on what was one of their best performances of the Pascale era. A clever, unselfish through ball by de la Cal sent Sam Palano free on a breakaway to the Cal State Dominguez Hills goal. Gentry had no chance, with Palano galloping toward him before placing his right-footed shot into the left side for his team-best fifth. It meant a first career two-assist game for de la Cal.

Fifth-year senior Cameron McElfresh had to make a career-high seven saves against an active Toro front line. The Tritons prevented the league's leading scorer, Joey Chica, from adding to his 10-goal tally. Gentry wound up with six stops. CSUDH did narrowly out-shoot UCSD on the day, 16-15. Shots were even in the first half, 11-11.

The Tritons dodged a slight bullet in the 36th minute. Off a left-sided throw-in by Chica, Angel Ayala appeared to barely get a foot to the ball, but McElfresh leapt to his left and slapped it out of danger. Two subsequent attempts from further out, first by Israel Murguia and then again by Ayala, were blocked and saved, respectively.

McElfresh, the Palano twins, Malek Bashti, Justice Duerksen, Riley Harbour, Brett Sampiere, Tyler Shaver and Kuba Waligorski were recognized prior to kickoff.

UC San Diego heads back to the Bay Area this week, to play at Stanislaus State on Friday, Oct. 21, and at Cal State East Bay on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Triton Notes: UCSD is 11-0-2 over its last 13 home dates going back to a 2-1 loss on Sept. 27, 2015 ... The Tritons are the only team in the CCAA with double-figure wins, and have the league's longest current win streak, just like the UCSD women ... UCSD has reached the 11-win mark for the second time in Jon Pascale's ninth year in charge, having gone 14-3-5 in 2013.

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