SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior goalkeeper Wade Hamilton chalked up three saves to post his Big West-leading fourth shutout of the season, but the Cal Poly men’s soccer program – despite outshooting Drake on Friday evening – settled for a scoreless draw at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

Sophomore winger Justin Dhillon recorded a career-high seven shot attempts for the Mustangs (5-2-2), who closed the non-conference portion of their regular season schedule by outshooting the Bulldogs (2-4-2), 19-16. The Mustangs, who also received five shot attempts from junior midfielder chase Minter, placed a further six shots on target without scoring.

“I think we created enough chances to win, we had a majority of possession and we were fluid through the midfield. We just didn’t finish,” Mustang interim head coach Phil Ruskin said. “They were only dangerous off the counter and we dealt with that. We controlled the game with the ball. If we finished two or three chances, we can call that a complete game. I feel great with how we played, just not how we finished. But, overall, I thought we played a great match.”

Drake enjoyed the first shot on target Friday with Hamilton turning away an 11th-minute strike by junior forward Eric Williams. Five minutes later, Drake sophomore midfielder James Wypych struck the right post.

Cal Poly enjoyed an early chance to grab the lead three minutes later, but Minter skimmed a line drive off the Drake crossbar. In the 27th, Cal Poly freshman midfielder Joseph Bolous – after getting through on goal – was stopped by Drake sophomore goalkeeper Darrin MacLeod. Mustang freshman winger Ramiro Molina-Valerio was also turned away by MacLeod in the 42nd.

Into the second half, Hamilton produced his final save in the 70th minute to preserve the tie and Cal Poly enjoyed several chances to snatch three points late. Dhillon was thwarted by MacLeod in the 81st and 83rd before placing a header wide of an open Drake net in the 88th.

In overtime, Cal Poly’s best chance to leave with victory occurred in the 100th minute, but sophomore midfielder Sean Dhillon saw a late effort repelled by MacLeod.

Cal Poly opens its 14th season of Big West action when hosting No. 4 UC Irvine on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.

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