UCSD Edges Humboldt State on OT Stunner, 1-0

October 2, 2016

LA JOLLA, Calif. - Fourth-year senior Riley Harbour's sudden-victory stunner late in the first overtime period gave the University of California San Diego men's soccer team a much-needed, if not must-have, 1-0 triumph over Humboldt State University at Triton Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

An early October date may be a little premature for must-win circumstances, but for UC San Diego, whose schedule puts it on the road for six of the final eight regular-season contests, it was pretty close.

But with less than three minutes to play in the first of two potential 10-minute extra periods, at 97:12, Harbour saved the day for his side, putting a wicked right-footed shot into the left side of the goal for his second of the year. Both were late game-winners, this one of the sudden-victory variety, and both came at home on the same frame to the north, from right around the edge of the penalty area.

Assists went to fellow senior Sam Palano, as well as sophomore Quinn Allan, who was making his first start of 2016 in the injury absence of junior Nolan Mac.

UC San Diego improves to 7-1-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the CCAA, while staying an unbeaten 7-0-1 in La Jolla this season. Humboldt State drops to 3-6-1 overall and 1-5 in league play.

UCSD senior goalkeeper Cameron McElfresh did not have to record a single save for his sixth individual clean sheet of 2016 and 25th of his career. The Tritons as a team now have seven shutouts over their 10 matches, with three straight, and continue to lead the West Region with a 0.28 goals-against average as a unit.

For almost the entirety of the 97-plus minutes of action, the game looked like it could have just one winner in the host Tritons, who out-shot the Lumberjacks, 29-5. It was their largest shot total since a 6-0 home win over Cal State East Bay on Oct. 31, 2010.

A moment of misfortune, however, made it such that Humboldt State was probably agonized at the very end. The Jacks sent a right-sided cross during which UCSD center back Kuba Waligorski lost his footing and fell, leaving the ball to fall right into the path of Trice Smith, and with just 34 ticks left in regulation, the HSU junior had his shot come off the right post.

The Tritons came close to scoring at almost the exact opposite end of the timeline, just 33 seconds in. Andy Sartorsent a dangerous cross from the left, but fellow sophomore Nathaniel Bloom (Encinitas/San Dieguito HS Academy) had his right-footed attempt from close range deflected out to the right for a corner kick.

In the 25th minute, HSU's George Dickerson had what clearly was a right-sided cross, sail over McElfresh and bang off the far post for a near miss. Waligorski could have grabbed the decider in the 81st, sending a stellar right-sided Matt Merrill cross wide left of the intended target.

Sophomore Christopher Cherms finished with seven saves in the HSU net.

UCSD heads to the Bay Area next weekend to play at SF State on Friday, Oct. 7, and then at Cal State Monterey Bay on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Triton Notes: UCSD is 2-0-2 in overtime contests in 2016, having not won a single such game since late in 2013 ... The Tritons remain an undefeated 5-0-6 all-time against Humboldt State, including 4-0-1 in La Jolla under Jon Pascale ... They stretched their unbeaten streak at home to 9-0-2 since a 2-1 loss to Stanislaus State on Sept. 27, 2015, over a year ago ... Riley Harbour's strike snapped a string of 594:39 without a goal for UCSD by someone other than Sam Palano, who had tallied the team's last three going back to a 6-0 win over Saint Martin's on Sept. 10 ... In starting and playing all 97:12, Quinn Allan made just his second appearance of 2016, and first since Sept. 10 ... Senior winger Justice Duerksen came off the bench for the first time after starting each of the first nine matches ... The 29 shots came from 13 different Tritons, among the 17 field players to see action.

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