LA JOLLA, Calif. - Ninth-ranked UC San Diego pressured the opposing net for much of the night but was unable to overturn an early goal in falling to a 1-0 defeat to Western Washington University in non-conference men’s soccer action Saturday at Triton Soccer Stadium.

Tye Hastings accounted for the contest’s lone goal with a bending, curling, dipping left-footed blast from 25-30 yards out just 5:50 in. The Viking senior gathered the ball toward the left side of the field, dribbled toward the middle and pivoted to his left foot before unexpectedly unleashing a shot that managed to find its way in.

UCSD (1-1) outshot WWU (1-1), 14-9, including 10-4 following the intermission, and dictated play for much of the remainder after the Hastings strike. One sequence around the midway point of the second half saw Sam Palano go wide to the right from the left diagonal, fellow sophomore forward Malek Bashti shoot wide of the target to the left, and senior playmaker Brandon Bauman find the Viking goalkeeper.

A short time later, Bauman’s free kick from close to the left goal line was met near the penalty spot by the head of freshman Sean Pleskow, only to draw another save.

Freshman central midfielder Charlie Keating led all players with four shot attempts.

Junior Cameron McElfresh made a pair of saves in goal for the Tritons. Senior Keegan Rogers had three stops in keeping the individual shutout for the Vikings.

The West Region foes had not met since a 2-1 Triton victory in La Jolla back in 2006, with the all-time series now knotted at 2-2.

Senior striker Alessandro Canale made his first appearance of 2014 after being forced to sit out Thursday night’s season opener by virtue of a yellow-card accumulation left over from the 2013 finale. He provided three shots in 80 minutes.

Sophomore Nick Palano and Pleskow each made their first collegiate starts on the left and right wing, respectively. Nick’s start, alongside that of Sam’s, marked the first time the twins out of Lafayette were in UCSD head coach Jon Pascale’s 11 together. Freshman Sina Mofidi and junior transfer Renato Sanchez out of College of the Canyons made their Triton debuts.

UCSD next makes a short foray across town to Point Loma to take on the Sea Lions at 4:30 p.m. this Tuesday, Sept. 9, before returning to home activity on Thursday night, Sept. 11. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium against Dixie State is set for 7 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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