LA JOLLA, Calif. - Sophomore winger Zachary Lagotta (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic HS) scored his first goal of the season in the ninth minute to send UC San Diego to a 1-0 victory over visiting Cal State East Bay in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men's soccer match at Triton Soccer Stadium on Friday.

The contest was played in front of a season-high 660 spectators as UCSD students finally returned to the La Jolla campus this week for the new academic year.

With the win, UCSD improved to 3-2-3 overall and 2-0-1 in the CCAA. East Bay is 1-6 overall and 0-3 in league play.

The Tritons have shut out their four opponents over 380 minutes while going 3-0-1 at home thus far in 2015.

Redshirt junior Cameron McElfresh finished with three saves for UCSD to collect his fourth clean sheet of the year, all at home, and 16th of his career. Senior Adrian Topete made a pair of stops for the Pioneers. The Tritons held a 16-10 edge in shots.

Freshman Quinn Allan earned his first collegiate start at left back for UCSD. Triton head coach Jon Pascale started three true freshmen for the first time this season, with Andrew Flores and Brandon Monteiro Magpayo joining Allan in the 11.

UCSD still has never lost to Cal State East Bay, now 10-0-1 in 11 meetings. The Tritons won 2-0 in La Jolla last year and 2-0 in Hayward the season before. They have not allowed a Pioneer goal over the last eight-plus matchups, meaning 742:30 without a score going back to a 3-2 UCSD triumph in Hayward on Oct. 9, 2009.

Friday's lone scoring sequence began with a throw-in on the right sideline by sophomore striker Uly de la Cal. East Bay center back Duke Driggs responded with a headed clearance, but the ball fell to Lagotta on the right diagonal. He took a touch to settle, and rifled a left-footed shot into the back of the net for his third career goal at 8:33. It proved to be his second of the game-winning variety.

The Tritons had at least two solid opportunities early in the second half to double their advantage, but came up just short, relying ultimately on their defense to secure the full three points.

In the 49th, Monteiro Magpayo suddenly found himself staring at a largely-empty net following a deflection, but his shot was narrowly blocked away by a Pioneer defender with a desperation lunge. Within a minute, UCSD almost produced a highlight-reel goal. Junior Justice Duerksen lifted a cross from his left flank, Lagotta hit a one-touch ball with the inside of his right foot back across the penalty area, and de la Cal went virtually horizontal for a perfect-looking right-footed side volley that agonizingly smacked off the right post.

UCSD wraps up a season-long four-match homestand against Stanislaus State (7-1, 2-1 CCAA) this Sunday, Sept. 27. The Warriors suffered their first loss, 3-0, at Cal State San Marcos earlier Friday. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is set for 11:30 a.m., with the Triton women following at 2 p.m. Admission is free.

#TritonsRising

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