SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Cal Poly men’s soccer program forced UCLA sophomore goalkeeper Earl Edwards into four saves on Sunday afternoon, but a 46th-minute strike from Bruins senior midfielder Fernando Monge sent the Mustangs to a 1-0 defeat at Alex G. Spanos Stadium and snapped a five-match winning streak.

The Mustangs (5-3-0), whose five-game winning streak entering play matched a program record established in 1994, saw an early goal from junior forward Mackenzie Pridham called back for offsides – one of six times Cal Poly was whistled for the infraction. Held without a shot on goal until junior midfielder George Malki was turned away in the 26th minute, the Mustangs saw an attempt from junior forward  Ian Clark stopped by Edwards in the 55th before Pridham and senior midfielder Chris Gaschen had free kicks stymied in the 76th and 84th, respectively.

At the opposite end of Spanos Stadium, the Mustangs held No. 12 UCLA without a shot on target until Monge headed a Leo Stolz corner kick past Cal Poly freshman goalkeeper Wade Hamilton from three yards away. Hamilton later denied Monge in the 60th, as the Mustangs limited the Bruins to just two shots on frame in 90 minutes.

Cal Poly enjoyed one final chance to send Sunday’s matchup into overtime, but Malki fired an attempt over the UCLA crossbar with two seconds remaining.

Cal Poly opens its 12th season of Big West Conference action when visiting Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Sept. 28 (7 p.m.) and No. 19 UC Riverside on Sunday, Sept. 30 (1 p.m.).

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