MERCED, Calif. - Joshua Golka's first career goal was a game-winning goal scored in the 71st minute late Sunday night to help the University of California, Merced men's soccer team earn their first win of the season, 1-0 over Menlo College in the 2022 home opener.

The Bobcats (1-1) have now won three straight home openers on Bobcat Field and are unbeaten in six straight home openers dating back to 2017. The Bobcats have earned a shutout in five of those six matches.

Golka, a match hero along with UC Merced goalkeeper Marco Sobrevilla, checked into the contest in the 67th minute for the first time and scored less than five minutes later. Primarily a 6'5" center back, Golka was subbed in to play forward and answered the call with a left-footed score right in front of the penalty mark.

Andres Lua and Anthoni Martin were credited with an assist. Martin received the ball in stride down the left sideline before feeding Andres Lua inside the goal area. Lua's first touch set up Golka perfectly, and the Roseville, Calif., native beat the diving goalkeeper to his left for the game-winning goal. 

Lua's assist was the 16th of his career and with it he moved into a tie with Derick Zamora for ninth all-time in program history. Martin's assist was his second while sporting a UC Merced uniform. 

Golka's goal was one of ten shots head coach Albert Martins' team managed to record on the night. Marcos Ceballos held game-high with six shots, four on goal. Lua got off two shots. Both Ceballos and Lua had their top goal scoring opportunities just over ten minutes into the second half. 

Menlo College also had exactly ten shots, but just two in the first half when shots were extremely difficult to come by.

Sobrevilla was tasked with six saves, a chunk of them coming off Menlo free kicks. Sobrevilla's most impressive save of the night was his first of three in the final eleven minutes of action as he had to stop a ground ball shot from an unmarked Oak who had a clean shot at goal from 15 yards out.

Sobrevilla's shutout was the ninth of his career, second in the last six games dating back to last season. Two of his nine shutouts have come against Menlo College.

Sobrevilla and the Bobcats also successfully defended three corner kicks on Sunday night. The Bobcats offense earned two corner kicks.

The match saw 41 fouls called, 24 whistled against Menlo. Menlo also received five yellow cards and the Bobcats were shown three.

Up next, the Bobcats host The Master's University on Tuesday, August 30. First touch from Bobcat Field is scheduled for 5:00pm.