LA JOLLA, Calif. - Malek Bashti’s shot led to the first goal before the sophomore notched the insurance score midway through the second half as the UC San Diego men’s soccer team downed Cal State East Bay, 2-0, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match Sunday at Triton Soccer Stadium.

UCSD improved to 9-3-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the CCAA. Just past the midway point of the conference slate, the Tritons sit alone in third in the 12-team CCAA with 13 points. Cal State East Bay dropped to 3-6-3 overall and a still-winless 0-4-2 in league play. The Tritons remain an unbeaten 9-0-1 all-time against the Pioneers. They have not allowed a goal to East Bay over the last seven-plus match-ups, or 652:30, going back to a 3-2 UCSD win in Hayward on Oct. 9, 2009.

Bashti latched onto a right-sided Eric Young cross at the near post in the 17th minute, with his shot coming back off of the right post. The rebound deflected off of a Pioneer defender and snuck into the right corner for a 1-0 Triton advantage. The play went down as an own goal.

In the 68th minute, Bashti ran onto strike partner and fellow sophomore Sam Palano’s through ball down the left flank and slotted his shot low past the charging East Bay goalkeeper. The ball snuck just across the goal line as a defender dove to attempt a clearance. It was Bashti’s second of the year and Palano’s third assist.

The Tritons had a golden opportunity for a second score earlier in the second half as Sam Palano crossed from the right in the 59th minute, only for Brandon Bauman to blaze his shot over the target.

After 2-0, both sides also produced near misses from free kicks, as East Bay’s Arnol Arceta in the 78th and UCSD freshman Sean Pleskow in the 81st went narrowly high with their strong efforts.

Cameron McElfresh made one save in goal for UCSD to lock down his sixth clean sheet of 2014 and ninth of his career. Adrian Topete had a pair of stops for CSUEB.

UCSD held its opponent to fewer than five shots for the second time this season, with the Pioneers managing just four to the Tritons’ 12, including an 8-1 advantage for the home side following the halftime interval.

The Tritons were missing Charlie Keating, Brett Sampiere and Gerrit van Zyll, all through injury, and also lost Alessandro Canale Sunday after half an hour. With those absences, sophomore Riley Harbour drew his first collegiate start as a holding central midfielder and played a career-high 60 minutes. Redshirt freshman Dan Glascock was on the field the entire second half in just his second appearance, and fourth-year senior Jacob Valadez played 24 minutes, both also in central midfield.

UCSD now heads into a season-long four-match road stretch, beginning Friday, Oct. 17, at Cal State Monterey Bay.

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