No. 21 UCSD Men Stay Perfect at Home, 2-0

September 26, 2016

LA JOLLA, Calif. - Senior Sam Palano scored once in each half for his first collegiate two-goal brace, leading the No. 21 University of California San Diego men's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over rival Chico State in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action at Triton Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

UC San Diego improved to 6-1-1 overall and an even 1-1 in the CCAA. The Tritons were 5-0 in La Jolla to start the season before a scoreless draw and 1-0 defeat in back-to-back road forays. They now remain a perfect 6-0 in home action. Chico State, winless in its last six, dropped to 1-4-3 overall and 0-2-2 in league play.

Palano first got onto the end of a right-sided Uly de la Cal cross in the 21st minute, shooting right-footed from the right side, low into the left corner. The play actually began with Palano playing de la Cal down the flank. For de la Cal, it was a second assist for 2016.

In the 58th, it was 2-0, this time solely the doing of Palano. He stole the ball about midway between the center line and the opposing end line, took a couple of dribbles toward the right edge of the penalty area, and found the perfect spot between the outstretched arms of diving Wildcat goalkeeper Damion Lewis, and the left post.

With the brace, Palano took over the team lead now with four goals on the year.

Fellow senior Cameron McElfresh made three saves between the pipes for UCSD for his fourth individual shutout this season and 23rd of his career. He is now the program's record-holder for its NCAA Division II era, since 2000, in that category, moving one ahead of former All-American teammate and current pro Josh Cohen.

UCSD almost took a very early lead in the eighth. Junior Zachary Lagotta (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic HS) crossed from the right and Palano dummied the ball, only for senior midfielder Riley Harbour to go just wide to the left with his shot.

Up 1-0 in the 39th, the Tritons were unlucky to not double the advantage heading into the break. True freshman Kelvin Uribe, in a second straight start at center back alongside senior anchor Kuba Waligorski, played a long ball over the top, which junior Eric Young deftly brought down, spun and took to the end line. His short cross on the ground was latched onto by de la Cal, only for the shot to be deflected out to a corner kick by Wildcat defender Isaiah Dargan at the base of the left post.

Uribe, Waligorski, left back Nolan Mac and right back Jeff Powers played 90 minutes each, while Matt Merrillreturned to the field in a holding central midfield role after a one-game absence. All contributed to the shutout for the CCAA's No. 1 defense.

With about 23 minutes left, Mac denied a chance by the visitors to pull a goal back, after Frankie Palmer had played Rajaee DeLane into a dangerous area. Moments later, McElfresh went airborne to tip Alex Fluitt's hard shot to a corner kick.

UCSD could have killed the game in the 79th. Young stole the ball and sprung de la Cal one-on-one, but reserve Wildcat goalie Luke Dennison got down to his right to make his only save over 17-plus minutes in relief of Lewis, who had three stops.

UCSD remains at home next weekend, hosting Sonoma State on Friday, Sept. 30, at 4:30 p.m., and Humboldt State on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 11:30 a.m. Both contests open doubleheaders with the women's teams at Triton Soccer Stadium. Admission is free, with a live video stream, in high definition, on UCSDtritons.tv.

Triton Notes: UCSD is an unbeaten 3-0-2 against Chico State over the last five meetings ... Regulars Malek Bashti, Kyle Panganiban and Brett Sampiere remained unavailable for a third, second and seventh straight match, respectively.

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