POMONA, Calif. – The University of California, Merced men's soccer team outshot Cal Poly Pomona 18-9, but a CPP penalty kick in the 24th minute was the difference on Friday night in a 1-0 loss to the Broncos at Kellogg Stadium.
The Bobcats (2-2-3, 1-2) 18 shots were a season-high and their most in a road game since October 26, 2024.
Erlin Gomez and Danny Gaona peppered CPP with four shots each, including multiple shots on goal.
Gomez first challenged the Broncos keeper in the fourth minute, while Gaona put his first shot on frame in the 14th. Felipe Lopez and Ezekiel Cruz followed with a shot on target, with Cruz's being taken from the corner of the goal area that resulted in a diving save and first corner kick of the game.
CPP earned its penalty kick following video review. The original call was no penalty, but the referee overturned the decision and CPP's Marvin Gamez stepped up to the marker and buried his shot with ease.
In the 40th minute, Jose Ontiveros had a shot blocked and a shot saved in the same sequence in an attempt to pull even before halftime. The Bobcats outshot the Broncos 10-4 in the first half.
Gaona took a shot at goal on a free kick from 30 yards out in the 57th minute that was punched away by the keeper.
Thirty seconds later, Angel Joaquin left his line to make a strong defensive play on a CPP counterattack.
Thirty seconds after Joaquin's play, Christian Khanishian hit the crossbar.
UC Merced continued to threaten but were unable to find the equalizer. Gaona, Gomez, and Alejandro Sanchez had a shot in the closing stages. UC Merced also earned four corner kicks in the final 13 minutes, winning the corner kick battle 5-2 on the night.
Joaquin was credited with two saves in goal and he tied Bernardo Garcia for third all-time in program history with 91 career saves. He also passed David Hernandez and Brycen Miller for third all-time with his 29th career start.
Defensively, the Bobcats held CPP to just three shots on target which is tied for the fewest shots on frame given up by the Bobcats this year.
Lopez earned his first start for UC Merced.
Up next, UC Merced will play at No. 1 Cal State LA on Sunday, September 27. First touch from University Stadium in Los Angeles is scheduled for 11:00am.
