Box Score Cougar men's soccer played Cal Poly Pomona to a scoreless tie on Saturday, in front of the home crowd at Mangrum Track & Soccer Field.

CSUSM is now 6-6-2 on the year.

A somewhat lackluster effort from both sides led to the result. The normally very active Cougars took only 10 shots to Pomona's 9, and neither team consistently put together any kind of sustained offensive attack.

However, both teams did have their chances. CSUSM got what appeared to be a goal in the early second half, but it was called back late due to a foul. Forward Brandon Zuniga had an excellent one-on-one chance, and midfielder Chris Wyatt put a couple of dangerous shots on net, forcing Pomona keeper Thomas Ryan to make a couple of big saves.

But it was Cougar keeper Tashi Nakanishi who made the game's biggest plays. Though he wasn't required to make a save through the contest's first 100 minutes, Nakanishi was flawless in his decision making throughout. Then in the game's final 2 minutes, he made a pair of brilliant saves – the first on a clear shot from the top of the box that he knocked over the crossbar, and the second a diving stop on a header following the subsequent corner – that preserved the tie.

“Tashi was the player of the game,” commented Head Coach Ron Pulvers. “Those two saves were world class.”

The defense in front of him was also solid, with Curtis Marcikic and Troy Skomra playing particularly good games, being sound with the ball and blocking numerous shots.

CSUSM will host San Bernardino this Sunday in its second-to-last home game of the season.