LA JOLLA, Calif. - Nathaniel Bloom, a true freshman out of Encinitas (San Dieguito HS Academy), scored his first collegiate goal in the 26th minute and the UC San Diego men's soccer team held on to defeat Concordia Irvine, 1-0, in non-conference action in its 2015 home opener Tuesday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.

UCSD (1-1-1) was the aggressor from the outset, with the traffic mostly of the one-way variety in the second half in particular, when the Tritons out-shot the visitors, 13-5. They doubled them up on the night, 22-11. Concordia, the newest member of the Pacific West Conference (PacWest), was contesting its season opener.

Bloom entered the match at the 24:35 mark of the first half. Less than a minute later, sophomore Eric Young sent a deep right-footed pass from the left flank, toward the far post. That’s where junior Riley Harbour laid a header down toward the edge of the six-yard box, and after Bloom and the Concordia defender came together, it was Bloom who was able to nod the ball into the back of the net with a second touch at 25:21. Young and Harbour each gained credit for their first assists of the year.

Cameron McElfresh made three saves in goal as the Tritons produced their first shutout of 2015. It was the 13th individual clean sheet of the redshirt junior's career. Arguably his toughest save came in the 44th minute, when he went low to his left to deny Connor Gordon the equalizer. Jordan Brinkley had four stops for CUI.

The Tritons had a good early chance to dent the score in the 16th minute, when Justice Duerksen's header from a right-sided Zachary Lagotta (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic HS) cross went narrowly wide to the left. Freshman Brandon Monteiro Magpayo, who came on for the first time to begin the second half as Uly de la Cal's strike partner up front, created a danger within five minutes of taking the field with a free kick from the right, only for Brinkley to send Duerksen's shot away.

Redshirt freshman Jeff Powers earned both his collegiate debut, and the starting assignment at left back, playing the full 90 minutes. True freshman Andrew Flores also found his way into the lineup for the first time as a collegian, in central midfield.

UCSD and Concordia were meeting for the first time since 2008 and just the third time ever in men's soccer, the Tritons now holding a 2-1 series lead.

UCSD continues a tough stretch of three games in five days this week by traveling up to Azusa to take on preseason PacWest favorite Azusa Pacific (0-2) on Thursday night. Kickoff at the Cougar Soccer Complex is slated for 7:30 p.m., after the unbeaten Triton women (2-0) take on the Cougars at 5 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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