RIVERSIDE – Junior Chase Minter found the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute as the Cal Poly men’s soccer program stayed unbeaten in Big West Conference play with a 1-0 triumph Thursday evening at UC Riverside.

Junior goalkeeper Wade Hamilton matched a season high with nine saves for Cal Poly (7-2-3, 2-0-1), which remained unbeaten in 10 of its previous 11 matches despite being outshot by UC Riverside (2-8-1, 1-2-0), 24-9. The victory was Cal Poly’s seventh against the Highlanders in the previous eight meetings.

With the matched stalemated through 81 minutes and Cal Poly having placed just three shots on target versus UC Riverside goalkeeper KC John, Minter corralled a loose ball onto his chest seven yards from goal and volleyed a shot into the back of the Highlander net. The goal was Minter’s fourth of the year to tie him with freshman forward Kaba Alkebulan for second in the Mustang lineup. The goal also broke a nine-match scoreless streak for Minter.

“Chase did a good job tonight of finding the ball in midfield,” interim head coach Phil Ruskin said. “(UC Riverside) was tight in a diamond formation and Chase was able to expose some spots. He was good going forward and good defensively. He’s always looking to score and he converted tonight.”

At the other end of UCR Soccer Stadium, Hamilton chalked up six second-half saves – including two after Minter’s game winner – to preserve Cal Poly’s performance. Hamilton, who earned his 10th career shutout and fifth of 2014, has conceded just two goals in his previous 401 minutes of work.

“Wade was phenomenal tonight,” Ruskin said. “He was a warrior and (defender) Brett Forman in front of him was a warrior. The amount of work Wade and our team did tonight while on the back foot was phenomenal. He continues to give us chances to win games.”

Cal Poly produced four its nine shot attempts inside the opening 11 minutes and twice saw shots on target saved inside 14 minutes.

Into the second half, a 55th-minute attempt from sophomore winger Justin Dhillon was turned away by John, a save that marked Cal Poly’s last shot on target before Minter’s game winner.

“The guys sacrificed and fought tonight and the spirit of our group has to be commended,” Ruskin added. “We’re finding ways to win games and that’s what it takes to be there at the end of the year.”

Cal Poly continues its three-match road trip when visiting Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

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