SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team hadn't found the back of the net in three games, but scored three times in the first half en route to a 3-0 victory over San Francisco State in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on Friday afternoon at The Cougar Den.

Jacob Cintas scored his first collegiate goal and added an assist, Thor English opened his 2015 scoring account and Zach Olow headed in a wonder-goal as the Cougars improved to 4-5-2 overall and 2-4-1 in CCAA play.

SFSU drops to 5-4-2, 1-3-2 CCAA.

"I think it was reminiscent of the Stanislaus game where we scored three in the first half then grinded our way through the second half. Our strikers really did well to hold the ball up and that let us join up there with them and I think as a result we had San Francisco State on their heels and were able to get those three," said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers.

CSUSM made it 1-0 in the 18^th minute. Andrew Stalboerger played a 50-yard ball to the top of the SFSU box intended for English, who chested it down away from a pair of defenders. English took a touch toward the right sideline and then quickly took a shot back across goal inside the left post.

The Cougars continued to knock on the door, hitting the post and looking dangerous with English and Luka Stevanovic up top.

However, CSUSM ended up capitalizing once again from the long ball. Cintas played a ball from his spot at right back that Olow rose to meet at the top of the box. Olow headed a high-looping ball over the keeper's outstretched palm that nestled neatly into the top-right corner to make it 2-0 in the 33^rd minute.

Then it was Cintas' turn. Seven minutes after Olow's score, Eddie Guerra was able to turn the corner around the right side of the box. He took a dribble along the end line and then pulled it back for Cintas, who pounded it into the side netting.

CSUSM goalkeeper Zach Sheppard did his part in the second half to preserve his first shutout victory of the season. In the 61^st, he denied Ilja Golubevs on the goal line after the SFSU forward was able to get in behind the back line.

When Guerra received his second yellow in the 68^th minute and reduced the Cougars to 10 men, Sheppard was called even more into service.

He denied Nigus Solomon's open look from inside the left side of the box before getting a finger to Jakob Velega's attempt. He put a stamp on the victory with a stop on Adam Lenth's offering with just minutes left to spare.

The shutout marked the 14^th in Sheppard's career – a new CSUSM school record, breaking his tie with Kevin Ernst (2008-10).

"We had a lot of good performances by a lot of different players. This conference is going to test your depth and it did today. If you have depth and the players who can step up when called upon you can do really well," said Pulvers.

Sheppard was one of many Cougars in spot duty for numerous CSUSM regulars who missed the contest due to injury. Sheppard was in for early-season starter Landon Sherwood, Saul Resendiz started in the midfield to help offset the absence of Louie Farfan, and Stevanovic played ample minutes as a replacement for Dustin Scibilia.

The Cougars avoided their first four-game losing streak in program history with Friday's win.

CSUSM will host its final CCAA home match of 2015 on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Cal State Monterey Bay.