{"id":23424,"date":"2025-10-25T22:14:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T22:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/23424\/"},"modified":"2025-10-25T22:14:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T22:14:08","slug":"mens-soccer-ends-school-record-winless-streak-beats-bakersfield-2-1-the-ucsd-guardian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/23424\/","title":{"rendered":"Men\u2019s soccer ends school-record winless streak, beats Bakersfield 2-1 \u2013 The UCSD Guardian"},"content":{"rendered":"

UC San Diego men\u2019s soccer (1-7-7, 1-1-5 Big West) claimed a long-awaited 2-1 victory against Cal State Bakersfield (3-9-3, 3-2-2 Big West) at Triton Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The triumph snapped UCSD\u2019s historic 18-game winless streak and paved the way for a potential Big West Championship qualification.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time coming, but I don\u2019t think any of the boys are surprised by the result tonight,\u201d sophomore midfielder Woody Brown said in a postgame interview with The UCSD Guardian.<\/p>\n

The first goal of the night came after a lengthy back-and-forth start to the match. In the 30th minute, redshirt junior forward Brian Arens struck the ball into the open hands of Bakersfield senior goalkeeper Zenden Hart. The ball ricocheted off of Hart\u2019s hands toward Brown, who then booted it into the net.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no feeling like it, to be honest, scoring that first goal at home in front of our own fans,\u201d Brown said. \u201cYou dream of a ball like that just being dropped to you in the box.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the opening score, UCSD\u2019s midfield and defense controlled the flow of the game, swiftly handling the Roadrunners\u2019 attempts to advance up the field. Graduate student midfielder Cole Barrett put relentless pressure on the Roadrunners by chasing down and snuffing out their progressions. Redshirt junior defender Evan Wellerstein complemented Barrett\u2019s efforts, spearheading the defense\u2019s commanding presence by occupying the middle of the field and flying toward the Roadrunner\u2019s airborne shots.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe defense has been trusting us to put the ball in the back of the net; we know that they can hold it down back there,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n

Near the end of the half, redshirt sophomore defender Keenai Braun bolted for a loose ball in Bakersfield\u2019s final third, deflecting it off his chest and slamming it mid-air for a second Triton goal. Braun\u2019s score effectively closed out the opening period, giving UCSD a confident two-goal lead going into the break.<\/p>\n

The Tritons relied on their backline as the second half opened. Early in the period, the Roadrunners drove deep into UCSD territory to test redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Nic Thiele, who caught the wayward Roadrunner shot and maintained the Triton lead.<\/p>\n

Minutes later, the Roadrunners marched back into Thiele\u2019s sights. Bakersfield graduate student forward Rashaad Ogun sent the ball flying from outside of the box, which deflected off of Braun on its way into the center of the net and out of Thiele\u2019s reach, putting the Roadrunners on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n

Besides the Roadrunners\u2019 58th-minute goal, UCSD dominated the second half. The Tritons \u2014 clinging on to their 2-1 advantage \u2014 were physical and assertive on both offense and defense, countering any moves their opponent could muster.<\/p>\n

As the game neared its end, the Tritons\u2019 determined, gung-ho playing style led to a critical injury. As Wellerstein sprung to head away a deep Roadrunner pass, he collided with Bakersfield junior forward Chisom Ene and sustained a head injury.<\/p>\n

Even with their star defender down, the Tritons powered forward, shutting down the Roadrunners\u2019 last-ditch efforts to score. Thiele grabbed the ball in the final seconds of the game, ecstatically launching it as the clock hit zero on a 2-1 Triton victory.<\/p>\n

With a victory in possession, the Tritons are now tied with sixth-place UC Davis in the conference standings with 8 points. However, the Aggies are ahead of the Tritons on goal difference. The top six teams will compete for the Big West Championship in November.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m confident that we can use this momentum to ride high,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWe can get three points again and then more in the postseason. It\u2019s going to be big things from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

UCSD will travel to Sacramento State on Saturday, Oct. 25, to tough out its last away game of the season. The Tritons will return to Triton Soccer Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 1, for their Senior Night and the regular season finale against Cal State Fullerton.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Charn
\n <\/p>\n

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