LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men’s soccer team suffered a difficult 1-0 setback in double overtime to Azusa Pacific University in a key non-conference match-up of top West Region foes at Triton Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.

UCSD concluded a season-long four-match homestand and had its four-game win streak snapped, falling to 5-2. APU moved to 3-1. The Cougars had upset then-second-ranked Simon Fraser, who ended the Tritons’ 2013 season in the third round of the NCAA Championship, at home exactly one week ago by the final score of 2-1. UCSD and APU had not met since 2003, with the all-time series now 11-10-1 in favor of the Cougars.

After 90 minutes of scoreless regulation soccer, the visitors had the better of the chances in the extra periods. In the first session, junior Triton goalkeeper Cameron McElfresh was forced to make a pair of game-saving stops off the right foot first of Luke Ackermann, and then of Nate Nugen, parrying the latter shot over the crossbar.

Finally just 1:43 into the second and final overtime, Keenan Armbrust took a short pass from Nugen on the left side and a couple of dribbles toward the middle before taking a right-footed shot that trickled past the goal line as the game-winner. It was his first goal of 2014, with Nugen taking credit for his first assist.

McElfresh finished with a career-high six saves, with counterpart Tyler Jaramillo matching that total. APU held a 17-12 advantage in shots.

In the 66th minute, UCSD forward Alessandro Canale accepted a clever pass from Malek Bashti and cracked a shot that necessitated a diving Jaramillo save. Off the ensuing corner kick by Canale, Nick Palano gave the ball back to Canale, who crossed in again from the right only for Charlie Keating to put his header wide.

Less than five minutes later, Billy Flores of APU blasted a free kick from distance that took a deflection and smacked up against McElfresh’s crossbar.

The 81st minute saw Keyran Kelly’s left-sided corner kick headed at the back post by Ackermann, with McElfresh pouncing to deny a goal.

The Tritons had three notable attempts in the first half, with Bashti’s effort saved in the 24th minute before Sam Palano went wide to the right of the target in the 37th. With mere seconds to go before the interval, a nice combination play by Brandon Bauman and Nick Palano led to a shot from Sam Palano, but Jaramillo was there.

Even in defeat, the Tritons extended their streak of games in which they have allowed no more than one goal to 33, dating back to 2012.

UCSD is now set for its 11-game California Collegiate Athletic Association slate, beginning Friday, Sept. 26, at 24th-ranked defending league champion Cal State L.A. The Golden Eagles edged the Tritons, 1-0, in Turlock in the CCAA Championship final a year ago. Kickoff in Los Angeles is set for 4:30 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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