Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team edged The Master's College in its home opener, 1-0, to earn its first win of the season on Tuesday afternoon at the CSUSM Multipurpose Field.

Jake Kaiser scored the game's only goal in the 28^th minute to lift the Cougars to 1-2-1 on the season. TMC dropped to 3-3 overall.

The Cougars had reason to be hungry after surrendering four goals in each of their last two losses. The team combined for seven fouls and three yellow cards in the first 15 minutes, but eventually channeled the energy more productively.

Sullivan Tobin snuck in behind the Mustang defense in the 17^th minute, sending a cross back to the spot for a wide-open Erik Mueller. TMC did well to deflect the pass away.

10 minutes later, Kaiser rose to meet Alex Brunsell's out-swinger, but his effort was pushed over the bar by TMC keeper Andrew Bussell. The Mustang net-minder earned his keep moments later, as he got a fingertip to Thor English's one-on-one attempt.

The Cougars' persistence was rewarded with the three aforementioned Cougars combining to get the goal. English placed a long throw-in inside the six yard box, just over the head of Kaiser. The ball bounced over Bussell's head to Brunsell, who headed it back across the six to Kaiser. With the goalkeeper out of position, Kaiser calmly headed the ball into an open net.

“I thought the guys played really well and we created some really, really nice chances,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. “We only converted the one chance and certainly we would have liked to score a few more goals because I thought we were deserving of it.”

The Cougars probably should have had a couple more goals in the frame, but would be just fine with the single goal. Ryan Kisgen's shot to the near-post in the 40^th minute was pushed wide and Bussell made another one-on-one save, this time on Brunsell, to keep the Mustangs down by one at the half.

CSUSM outshot TMC 9-0 and earned seven corner kicks compared to zero for the Mustangs in the opening stanza.

The Cougars nearly snuck another one by early in the second half, as Brunsell played a short corner to the top of the box for Alex Jaziri. Jaziri's original shot was blocked by a crowded goal box, but the ball rebounded back to his feet. He fired again to the top corner and Brusell barely tipped it over the bar for another corner.

CSUSM goalkeeper Landon Sherwood felt relatively little pressure all afternoon. TMC's best opportunity came in the 60th minute, as Kevin Scheunemann worked his way inside the box unmarked. After temporarily losing possession, Scheunemann recovered to crack a shot just barely wide of the right post from eight yards away.

Cougar forward Alex Rodriguez provided CSUSM's last chance on goal with less than a minute to go. Rodriguez dispossessed the TMC central defender 35 yards out, creating a one-on-one breakaway. Rodriguez was tackled from behind by the Mustang defender, in an obvious red-card situation.

However, the referee deemed the challenge a yellow card, setting up a free kick 19 yards out in the middle of the field. Brunsell curled the kick over the wall, forcing a save from Brusell. Kaiser's rebound attempt was blocked out for a corner.

“We'll take this result and move on. It was really important for our team to get a win today to create some belief in the team. We've got a really tough game later this week,” said Pulvers.

CSUSM heads to Irvine on Thursday to face Concordia (Calif.) at 2:00 p.m. The Cougars' next home game is Wednesday, Sept. 19 against Biola at 4:00 p.m.