SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (6-7-3, 5-4-0 CCAA) clinched a berth in the CCAA Tournament for the second time in program history with a 1-0 win against UC Merced (3-9-3, 2-6-1 CCAA) on Sunday at The Cage.
 
GOALS
CSUSM – 74' Brooklyn Baker (Assisted by Andrew Valencia & Manny Solis)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Scoreless after 45 minutes, CSUSM led the half in shots (12-3), shots on goal (4-1) and corner kicks (3-0) while controlling possession for 62% of the period. Five Cougars had two shots each for the half.
• The game's momentum shifted towards the Cougars in the 74th minute. Outside the top of the box on the right side, Manny Solis made a pass to his right to Andrew Valencia, who immediately sent a cross over to the left corner of the six-yard box to Brookyn Baker. On the second touch, Baker put a shot into the upper left portion of the goal to give CSUSM a 1-0 lead.

 
QUICK KICKS

• CSUSM ended the game with the edge in shots (15-7), shots on goal (5-2), corner kicks (7-3) and possession (59%-41%).
• Baker's goal was his first of the season.
• Valencia's assist was his second of the year while Solis' was his first.
• The Cougars' only other CCAA Tournament appearance occurred in 2023.
• This was the first-ever meeting between CSUSM and UC Merced.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will be look to improve its seed for the first round of the CCAA Tournament in its regular-season finale against fourth-place Cal State LA on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in The Cage.