ATHERTON, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team stood strong and withstood a potent Menlo College offense to earn a 0-0 draw against the Oaks in the 2023 season opener Saturday afternoon at Wunderlich Field.
With the draw, the Bobcats (0-0-1) extended their program-record regular season unbeaten streak to 17 consecutive matches dating back to last season. Also of note, the Bobcats remain unbeaten in the last five matches dating back to 2019 against the Menlo College Oaks.
Menlo outshot UC Merced 15-3 in the draw and won the corner kick battle 6-2, but the Bobcats defense made it tough for the shots to be on target and goalkeeper Brycen Miller was only forced with three saves over the 90 minutes of action.
Miller earned his third career shutout in his tenth career start and keeps his goals against average under 1.00 now with over 1,700 minutes between the posts.
Miller played all 90 minutes along with Oliver Zamora, Cristian Gaona, Thomas Knierieme, Diego Fresquez, and Xavier Barajas. Freshman outside back Braxton Fleming recorded 74 minutes and earned the start in his collegiate debut.
In the first half, Miller saved a pair of line drive free kicks from just outside the box to keep the game scoreless. Zamora also made a nice defensive play on a Menlo corner kick and Barajas blocked a shot during the first 45 minutes.
Early in the second half, Menlo put a free kick over the crossbar and a header directly off a corner kick over the crossbar.
Miller made his most impressive save in the 57th minute. With an injured Bobcat down and the Oaks essentially having a one-man advantage on this particular offensive sequence, a groundball cross got through to an Oak at the penalty marker and Miller managed to make a kick-save on the one-timer.
Offensively for the Bobcats, Kevin Capetillo took two of the three Bobcats shots, one in each half. Fresquez was responsible for the Bobcats final shot in the 77th minute.
Roberto Ceja returned to action for the Bobcats and earned the start in his first game back since 2021 due to an injury. Other notables include the collegiate debut's for Fleming, Saul Gonzalez, Joey Alvarez, and Jake Perkins.
Up next, the Bobcats host Jessup University for the 2023 home opener at Bobcat Field on Saturday, August 26 at 7:00pm.
