LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's soccer team rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit and scored a pair of dead-ball goals after the intermission to take a well-earned 3-2 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match at Triton Soccer Stadium on Friday night.

The physical, free-flowing and entertaining game was played in front of 505 spectators as UCSD Athletics kicked off its Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend.

A second straight one-goal triumph over an upper-tier opponent lifted UCSD to 5-4-3 overall and 4-2-1 in the CCAA. The Tritons were coming off of a 1-0 decision at reigning West Region champion Cal State L.A. last Sunday afternoon. CSUMB, a winner of three straight heading in, all at home, fell to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Otters were 4-1 outside of Seaside prior to Friday's defeat.

The Tritons entered the contest two points back of the Otters in the standings, in fifth, to begin the CCAA second half. When the final horn sounded, they had jumped over CSUMB and moved two spots up to sole possession of third.

Friday's result marked a couple of firsts for UCSD. The Tritons tallied more than a single goal for the first time in 2015, having managed just seven goals over their first 11 matches. It was also UCSD's first come-from-behind win on the year, the team's previous four successes all coming via the identical final score of 1-0.

The Tritons looked as good as they have all year, and it showed in the offensive haul.

True freshman Brandon Monteiro Magpayo scored the first two goals of his career. He tied the game at 1-1 in the 34th minute, getting on the end of a short cross from the left by Nick Palano and slotting home just inside the right post. It was Palano's first collegiate assist, coming on the heels of his 88th-minute winner in Los Angeles five days prior. Monteiro Magpayo, a product of Redwood Shores, then notched a first career decider of his own, at 75:35. CSUMB was whistled for a foul at the top of the 18-yard box, and the Tritons' No. 10 coolly buried his right-footed free kick into the lower right corner.

In between, junior transfer Justice Duerksen found the target for his first goal as a Triton, from the penalty spot, in the 53rd minute to level the score at 2-2. Duerksen was fouled inside the area to gain the spot kick, and stepped up to convert his first penalty try in UCSD colors, going right-footed to the right side of the net. It was a big moment for the Tritons, who were just 1-for-3 in penalty-kick opportunities so far this season.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Emmanuel Corona headed in fellow defender William Blackburn's right-sided corner kick at the back post. The goal left the junior as the team's joint leader with three. Freshman Adam Voloder then gave the Otters a second lead they would be unable to maintain, just before halftime at 41:36. He weaved from right to left inside the Triton penalty area and shot left-footed into the bottom right corner for his first collegiate score, unassisted.

Cameron McElfresh had one save for UCSD. Senior Evan Drake made three difficult stops for CSUMB.

The Tritons out-shot the Otters 7-4 in each half, for a 14-8 margin on the night. Their best chance to up the lead came in the 63rd minute courtesy of Riley Harbour. The junior central midfielder got his right foot to another left-sided Palano cross, but Drake really covered some ground to produce an impressive last-gasp save before the ball could cross the goal line.

UCSD stays unbeaten over its last nine (6-0-3) against Cal State Monterey Bay, with five of those six wins of the one-goal variety around a 5-0 thumping in Seaside in 2012. UCSD is an undefeated 4-0-2 at home all-time against CSUMB.

UCSD remains in home action, hosting SF State this Sunday, Oct. 11. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is slated for 2 p.m., after the women's teams face off at 11:30 a.m.

#TritonsRising

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