ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team fell 1-0 to Soka University of America on Sunday afternoon at Lions Den Soccer Stadium.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats (8-2-3, 6-2-1) outshot Soka 17-5 and held Soka to just one corner kick.
Soka scored the decisive goal in the 16th minute, getting down the sideline and then to the endline before sending a cross into the goal box where Luis Barraza converted a sliding finish to put the Lions up 1-0.
The goal was scored on the Lions third shot of the game. The Bobcats controlled possession the rest of the way but were unable to find the back of the net.
Just before halftime, the Bobcats earned a free kick and sent the ball to Joshua Golka but a header went high.
UC Merced took 14 of their 17 shots in the second half and put five of them on target. An early second half opportunity from Thomas Knierieme was stopped by a diving Eric Aparicio. Shortly after, a Brian Lua one-timer from ten yards out missed left.
In the 71st minute, the Bobcats created a goal scoring opportunity after a play inside the box from Kevin Capetillo but the Bobcats shot was blocked by a Lion who had fallen to the ground a second before.
The Bobcats had a final opportunity with a set piece in the 87th minute from 30 yards out, but it resulted in a groundball shot from Xavier Barajas being saved.
Earlier in the game for the Bobcats, Brycen Miller was credited with a save in the 30th minute.
The Bobcats were shutout for just the second time this season.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host University of Saint Katherine on Thursday, October 19. First touch from Bobcat Field in Merced, Calif., is scheduled for 7:00pm.
