MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team continued their best start in program history with a 1-0 shutout over Benedictine University Mesa in the California Pacific Conference opener Friday night on Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (6-1-1, 1-0) are unbeaten in eight straight matches this year and are now unbeaten in 19 straight conference games dating back to October 5, 2017.
Juan Flores helped make it happen with a game-winning goal in the 15th minute. Left of the goal, Flores controlled a pass from Andres Lua and fired one past the diving keeper. Flores' shot hit the far post and banked into the back of the net.
Flores' goal was his third of the season, 20th of his career.
Lua's assist marks his third straight match with at least one point. The sophomore also shared match-high with six shots, one on goal. Marcos Ceballos also had six shots, three on goal.
Between the posts for the Bobcats was Marco Sobrevilla and he upped his career-high for the second straight game finishing with six saves and the shutout. Sobrevilla's shutout marked his second in the last three games and third of his career.
Sobrevilla was peppered with a pair of shots midway through the first half, including one from Momodou Kinteh who entered the match with a Cal Pac best eight goals.
Of Sobrevilla's six saves, two of them came in the final 15 minutes of play.
Overall, the Bobcats outshot BenU Mesa 20-13, 7-6 on goal. Three of the Bobcats 20 shots came as a direct result of a corner kick, however neither of the three shots were on target.
UC Merced had 12 corner kicks total.
Flores' goal early in the match was a representation of the Bobcats strong start out of the gates. Prior to Flores' goal the Bobcats had managed to get off four shots compared to the Redhawks one. After the score, the Bobcats got off six more shots within the next 15 minutes.
The second half was played to a similar pace with the Bobcats wasting no time creating offensive opportunities. Flores found the back of the net again in the 56th minute but was whistled offsides.
The referees blew their whistle 26 times for fouls and booked four players, three Bobcats.
David Dominguez made his 2019 debut in the 1-0 win.
UC Merced is now 3-0 all-time against BenU Mesa with two shutouts.
Up next, the Bobcats host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Field. First touch is scheduled for 3:00pm.
