SAN FRANCISCO - The University of California San Diego scored twice within the final 11-plus minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit and take a giant 2-1 victory over San Francisco State University in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men's soccer game with big postseason implications Friday at Cox Stadium.

With the result, UC San Diego improved to 8-1-2 overall and 3-1-1 in the CCAA. SF State fell to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in league play. The Tritons, an unbeaten 3-0-1 over their last four, vaulted over the Gators, 10 points to nine, and into the sixth spot in the conference table, pending other outcomes later at night.

Friday's match marked the third time this season that UCSD has surrendered the first goal before rallying for a 2-1 win. The Tritons had turned that trick in each of their first two contests, both at home, against Azusa Pacific and Westmont.

Trailing 1-0 late, UCSD earned a penalty kick at the 78:57 mark after a cross from the end line on the right side, was contacted by the hand of an SFSU defender. Senior winger Justice Duerksen converted the spot kick for his second goal of 2016.

Less than three minutes later, junior left back Nolan Mac played down the left flank to Duerksen, who beat one defender with a step-over move and whipped in a great left-footed cross. Junior striker Uly de la Cal flicked perfectly with his right foot at the near post, with the ball glancing off the back post and in at 81:08. For de la Cal, it was his fourth on the year, moving him into a tie for the team lead with Sam Palano. Duerksen picked up his first assist as a Triton in his second year in the program.

"A big win against a very good opponent," said ninth-year UC San Diego head coach Jon Pascale. "It was a veteran team always believing they could win the game. We defended great in the second half and never let SFSU catch their rhythm. Our defense led to some great attacks and good looks at their goal. It was an all-around great team effort."

The home side almost scored less than two minutes into the game, with Ranier Plantinos running onto a dangerous through ball by a teammate into the penalty area. Senior goalkeeper Cameron McElfresh charged out of his goal to cut down the angle and block away the shot.

About a minute later, the close call was on the other end. Junior winger Zachary Lagotta (San Diego/Cathedral Catholic HS) laid off from the right side for Riley Harbour, but the senior's shot went wide to the left of the target.

The Gators broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, Andy Altamirano slipping a shot on the ground from the left side of the penalty area just past McElfresh and inside the near post after a clever pass from Richard Leon. It was his second goal of 2016.

The score was just the fourth this season against UCSD, which entered with a 0.28 goals-against average, second-best nationally, on the heels of three consecutive clean sheets. The Tritons' latest shutout streak thus ended at 356:51.

UCSD was the aggressor for a large section of the second half, consistently pressuring the Gator goal. The Tritons had a flurry of chances around the 65-minute mark, in particular, before receiving their just reward over the final stages. The shot tally ultimately showed a 22-9 advantage, including 13-3 after the halftime break.

SFSU did almost pull back to even at the death, but Plantinos' header was handled by McElfresh, who wound up with five saves. Emmanuel Jimenez had four stops for the Gators.

UCSD remains in the Bay Area and heads south to Seaside for a Sunday date with Cal State Monterey Bay at 2 p.m. at the Otter Sports Complex.

Triton Notes: All three game-winners in UCSD's come-from-behind 2-1 victories in 2016 have come in the 79th minute or later ... This was the Tritons' first road win of the year, now at 1-1-1 outside of La Jolla ... Justice Duerksen's penalty kick served as UCSD's first goal away from home after 281:07 scoreless minutes ... Danny Glascock made his season debut as a first-half substitute in central midfield ... True freshman Jonathan Stoop, who was a center back throughout his high school days but had played almost exclusively in central midfield thus far as a Triton, came on at center back for the final 65:32 ... UCSD indeed played the last 3:42 with two true freshmen at center back in Stoop and Kelvin Uribe, after Kuba Waligorski collided with Matt Merrill, and both Tritons needed to depart.

#AllForOne

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