MERCED, Calif. - Andres Lua scored right before halftime and Marco Sobrevilla earned his record-breaking eighth career shutout to propel the University of California, Merced men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Simpson University on Wednesday afternoon in the California Pacific Conference Quarterfinals.

The Bobcats (12-4) will now face top-seeded Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Thursday at 2:30pm in the tournament semifinals.

Lua's goal was his fifth career postseason goal and he headed in a Kevin Capetillo cross in the final minute of the first half. Overall, the score marked Lua's ninth goal of the campaign, fourth in the last three games and he enters tomorrow's match on a season-best three-game goal scoring streak.

Capetillo's assist was his team-best eleventh of the year. The Oakland, Calif., native sent the cross in from near the corner flag and connected with Lua inside the goal box. Capetillo has an assist in a career-best three straight matches and his eleven total assists is tied for second on UC Merced's single-season record list. Only David Esparza (15 in 2014) has more in a campaign.

Goalkeeper Marco Sobrevilla anchored the Bobcats with a career-high eight saves. Six of his eight saves came in the second half, including stopping a penalty kick due to a foul in the 78th minute that forced the Bobcats to play with just nine players the remainder of regulation.

Sobrevilla's shutout was the eighth of his career, putting him ahead of David Hernandez for first all-time in program history. 

The Bobcats finished the afternoon outshooting Simpson 13-10 and winning the corner kick battle, 5-4.

UC Merced's Juan Flores, Lua, and Capetillo, as well as Simpson's Pablo Sanchez Jimenez all shared match-high with three shots.

12 of the Bobcats' 13 shots came when they were at full-strength. UC Merced lost Ricky Rosas in the 71st minute and Ivan Leon in the 78th. 

Simpson took five of their ten shots from that point on, including the PK that Sobrevilla stopped diving to his right. Sobrevilla's final save came in the 89th minute on a ground ball shot from Simpson's Christian Guevera. 

Sobrevilla's eight saves are the most by any Bobcat since David Hernandez stopped ten against Embry-Riddle on November 8, 2018.

Other notables from Wednesday's quarterfinal match include 39 combined fouls, 20 whistled against the Bobcats. Seven total cautions were issued.

UC Merced has now won three straight conference tournament games dating back to last year and have a postseason win (either Cal Pac or NAIA) in six of the last seven seasons.

Conference tournament action continues on Thursday as the Bobcats host top-seeded Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at 2:30pm on Bobcat Field.