LA JOLLA, Calif. - Andisheh Bagheri’s 74th-minute penalty-kick goal lifted sixth-ranked UC San Diego over Cal State San Bernardino, 1-0, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s soccer action Friday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.

With a seventh straight shutout victory, UCSD moved to 9-1-1 overall and 7-1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Tritons maintained their one-point lead atop the CCAA South Division over Chico State (9-2, 7-2 CCAA), itself a 2-0 winner at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday. The teams square off at Triton Soccer Stadium this Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m.

UCSD has gone 673:59 without surrendering a score, the program’s longest shutout streak of the Division II era (since 2000). The seven-game win streak is UCSD’s longest since a nine-gamer in 1996.

Bagheri powered in his spot-kick attempt at 73:49 to the right of Coyote goalkeeper Roberto Gonzalez. Junior strikerAlessandro Canale was clattered into by a defender from behind as he rose to try and head a right-sided cross from Cory Wolfrom toward the far post.

It was Bagheri’s fourth goal of the year, with a team-best three of them now of the game-winning variety. The senior midfield general, currently a UCSD graduate student, also beat California Baptist with a penalty kick, that one in overtime, in the Tritons’ season opener in Riverside back on Sept. 5. This is the second time this season that Bagheri notched the lone goal in a 1-0 home win for UCSD, having done the same thing against Sonoma State on Sept. 29 with a 31st-minute free kick.

UCSD’s senior All-American goalkeeper, Josh Cohen, was credited with four saves in earning his eighth clean sheet of 2013 and milestone 20th of his career.

The teams each took five shots over the first 45 minutes, with the Tritons creating the best opportunity in the 26th as junior midfielder Brandon Bauman provided a perfect right-sided cross, only for Gonzalez to come up with a reflex save on Canale’s point-blank header.

In the second half, Gavin Lamming’s powerful shot was cleared off of the goal line by a Coyote defender in the 65th minute following a Wolfrom corner kick. Moments later, it was Wolfrom hitting the crossbar from close range to keep it scoreless.

Cal State San Bernardino fell to 4-7-2 overall and 2-7 in league play in losing its seventh straight, with six of them now by narrow one-goal margins, since a solid start to its campaign. The Coyote offense, which has mustered just two goals during the recent skid, was no match for what is again statistically the nation’s top defense. UCSD paces the entire NCAA Division II in goals-against average (0.27) and shutout percentage (0.73) for the second year in a row.

Gonzalez had three stops for CSUSB. Shots were even on the night, 12-12.

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Chico State, which has won four straight, follows the women’s match between the schools at 11:30 a.m. at Triton Soccer Stadium.

Triton Notes: UCSD leads the all-time series, 19-16-6 ... The Tritons are 3-0-1 against the Coyotes over the last four years in La Jolla since a 2-1 CSUSB triumph in 2009 ... The Coyotes haven’t scored at Triton Soccer Stadium in 378:40 ... UCSD swept the 2013 season series between the divisional rivals, taking both meetings by identical 1-0 scorelines ... Bagheri’s four goals are a career high, and give him six for his career ... Bagheri now shares the team lead in goals scored with Canale ... Three of his strikes have come from dead-ball situations, with two from the penalty spot and one via free kick ... The Tritons have four 1-0 victories in 2013 ... UCSD is a perfect 4-0 at Triton Soccer Stadium this season, and has yet to allow a goal in 360 minutes played there.

#TritonsRising

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