It wasn't easy, but Cougar men's soccer battled through tough playing conditions and finally found the back of the net to earn a 1-0 victory a La Sierra University.

The win improves the Cougars to 8-5 on the year.  La Sierra falls to 4-8.

Sunday's contest had all the makings of a trap game for the Cougars, who have been riding high since a 1-0 start.  The squad was coming off an emotional, dominating 5-1 win on Senior Day and playing on the road against a team with a losing record - all ingredients for a potential let-down.  CSUSM came out firing, generating three very dangerous early chances but narrowly missing on all of them.

The game would continue like that, and CSUSM Coach Ron Pulvers knew his squad was just one mistake or bad bounce away from losing.  But in the 85th minute, Bradley Seidenglanz hit a ball into the box, and Brandon Zuniga finally found the back of the net with a header.  That would prove to be the game winner, as CSUSM escaped with a 1-0 win.

"The team is willing their way to win," commented Pulvers.

Keeper Kevin Ernst was rarely tested and made one save to pick up the shutout.

CSUSM will be in action this Friday at Soka.