IRVINE, Calif. – The 23rd-ranked University of California, Merced men's soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to ten consecutive matches with a 0-0 draw against 19th-ranked Westcliff University on Thursday night at OC Great Park.
The Bobcats (7-0-3, 3-0-1) ten-match unbeaten streak is a new program-record to start the season, besting their previous best mark from the 2017 campaign. Another impressive streak, the Bobcats are unbeaten in nine straight regular season matchups against nationally-ranked opponents dating back to 2017.
With the draw, UC Merced and Westcliff share league-high with ten points apiece with three conference matches remaining.
For the contest, UC Merced outshot Westcliff 9-7 and won the corner kick battle 4-3. Both teams put five shots on frame. The Bobcats also forced Westcliff into 12 fouls. Each team was issued two yellow cards.
Omar Garcia paced the Bobcats with three shots and two on goal, while six other Bobcats took at least one shot.
UC Merced attempted to strike first in the fifth minute with a Luis Villegas shot on goal but Warriors keeper Jesse Heredia stood strong with his first of five saves.
Shortly after, the Bobcats Angel Joaquin was tasked with a save and he stopped a header shot from one of the leagues top goal scorers in Jordan Di Lonardo. Like Heredia, Joaquin would go on to make five saves which marked a career-high for the sophomore.
Four of Joaquin's five saves all came within the first 15 minutes of the match. He made his last save in the 57th minute to record his second shutout of the season.
Offensively, the Bobcats attack came alive in the final three minutes searching for the game-winning goal. Garcia took a couple shots, and then found the head of Edwin Casillas on a corner kick in the 90th minute but Casillas' shot hit the crossbar.
Thursday night's draw was the first in five all-time meetings between the two sides. UC Merced leads the series 3-1-1.
Up next, UC Merced will host Soka University of America on Friday, October 19. First touch from Bobcat Field in Merced, Calif., is scheduled for 7:00pm.
