Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team earned its third consecutive shutout win with a 2-0 victory over Bethesda University on Tuesday afternoon at Mangrum Soccer Field.

Sullivan Tobin and Alex Brunsell scored in the second half to hand the Cougars their fifth victory in their last six games. The team finishes the regular season at 6-6-3 overall, which marks the first time this season CSUSM has held a .500 win-percentage.

“Initially, we lacked energy and were pretty flat. Having it be nil-nil at half was good for us,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. “We were able to speed the game up in the second half, which suited us better, and we took advantage of our opportunities at goal. Overall, I thought we played half of a good game and half of a game that lacked enthusiasm.”

The Cougars struggled to find their rhythm early on, creating just a pair of chances at goal.

Eric Lopez cut a pass back to Yuki Hata in the 17^th minute, but Hata's shot from 13 yards was blocked by the Bethesda defense. Alex Jaziri had a look at goal from 25, but his left-footed attempt sailed high.

CSUSM escaped with a 0-0 score line at half, as Bethesda's Hajin Kim ricocheted an open shot from the top of the box off the crossbar in the 24^th.

“We were able to talk over some things at the break and got ourselves ready to play at our pace going into the second half,” said Pulvers.

Freshman goalkeeper Zach Sheppard kept the Flames off the board early in the second half, as Daniel Ruiz found himself in dangerous position on the right edge of the box. He ripped a shot to the far corner, but Sheppard dove to his right to push it wide of the post.

CSUSM's Luka Stevanovic had a go off a free kick in the 56^th minute, but his high-bending ball from 30 yards was just high of the crossbar.

The Cougars finally struck in the 60^th minute, taking advantage of Bethesda's inexperienced goalkeeper, who was inserted 30 seconds earlier due to Hyeokjin Choi's injury.

Lopez collected the ball in the center circle before chipping it over the back line into the path of Tobin. The forward caught Brian Garcia in no man's land at the top of the box and cleverly volleyed the ball over Garcia's head and into an open net.

Eight minutes later, the Cougars were awarded an in-direct free kick four yards out after Bethesda's keeper picked up the ball on a back pass from his defender. Alex Rodriguez lightly touched the ball before Brunsell fired it inside the left post.

Sheppard was called to action late in the half, making a diving stop on Jose Lopez's rocket from 30 yards. The Cougar goalkeeper has yet to surrender a goal in three consecutive starts.

With the regular season complete, the Cougars will look forward to the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Nov. 9 & 10 at Mangrum Soccer Field. Fourth-seeded CSUSM will face top-seeded Ashford (Iowa) at 2:00 p.m. on Nov. 9.

The Cougars are the defending A.I.I. champions.

“We're going to turn our attention to A.I.I. and getting ready for a very challenging game against Ashford,” said Pulvers.