SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team earned its first victory of the season in decisive fashion, shutting out Saint Martin's 3-0 on Monday afternoon in non-conference play in The Cage.

The Cougars, who hadn't scored in their first two matches, scored three times in the first half to put the game away early. CSUSM improves to 1-2-0 overall ahead of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play which commences next Wednesday at home against UC San Diego.

"We were hungry for a result and I think we were ripe for it. Our team comes with a great work rate and spirit every day and we're getting better," said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. "I thought we moved the ball well, spread them out, and were able to create a lot of good chances because of it."
 
CSUSM was on the front foot from the get-go in a match in which it out-shot the Saints 13-7.

In the 26^th minute, Victor Gonzalez was pulled down at the top of the arc above the SMU box to give the Cougars a dangerous free kick about 22 yards out. Zach Olow ran over the dead ball before Bryan Morrison curled a shot over the wall and inside the left post. The clinical finish was the junior's first goal since Oct. 25, 2014.

The Cougars made it 2-0 in the 42^nd minute. Robbie Dirks sent a long throw-in to the short post and found a cutting Gonzalez, who flicked it across goal into the right side-netting. The score marked Gonzalez's first as a Cougar.

With 1:10 remaining in the half, CSUSM was granted a penalty kick when Andrew Stalboerger was clipped inside the box on a bouncing ball. Olow stepped in to take the kick and sent the keeper to the left before slotting the shot down the middle.

The second half was played in a more even fashion and redshirt freshman goalkeeper Justin Tesar came through with two key saves to preserve his first shutout and victory of his young Cougar career.

SMU drops to 1-4-0 overall.

Kick-off next Wednesday, Sept. 21 against UCSD is slated for 3 p.m.