LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego men's soccer team, after opening up California Collegiate Athletic Association play this past weekend with two 0-0 draws, aims to pick up its first league win with a game Friday against Cal State Stanislaus, the first of four straight road matches.
The Tritons (3-0-3, 0-0-2 CCAA), ranked eighth regionally in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, take on CSUS at 4:30 p.m. Friday and then travel to Chico State for a 2 p.m. contest on Sunday.
After three consecutive matches of 0-0 results, UCSD hasn't scored or allowed a goal in its past 330 minutes of action. The only other time at the Division II level at which the Tritons recorded three consecutive shutouts occurred at the start of UCSD's 2005 campaign. Tritons' senior goalkeeper Peter Akman now has 16 career shutouts, including four in the first six games of 2009.
The Warriors of CSUS stand at 4-1 overall after losing to Sonoma State 3-2 and defeating Humboldt State 3-1, both road matches to start CCAA play last weekend. Wednesday the Warriors challenge Chico State at 4:30 p.m. CSUS junior forward Victor Regalado leads his squad in points, having tallied six goals in just five matches. The Tritons hold a 10-2-2 advantage in the all-time series with the Warriors.
The Chico State squad, not unlike UCSD, saw plenty of extra time on the field during CCAA opening weekend. The Wildcats needed two overtimes to top HSU 1-0 before playing to a 1-1 double-overtime draw with Sonoma State. CSUC senior goalkeeper Michael Keohane has been strong in net, posting two shutouts to go along with a .886 save percentage (31 saves, four goals allowed). The Tritons have seven wins in the 11 all-time meetings with the Wildcats, who are currently positioned No. 5 in the West Region poll rankings.
Currently junior midfielder Shane Micheil leads the Tritons in points with five, tallying two goals and one assist through the early part of the 2009 season.
After matches with CSUS and CSUC, UCSD will then travel to Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino the following weekend. The next match at home for the Tritons will be Oct. 2 at 4:30 p.m. against No. 10 Sonoma State.
