Box Score
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team registered its third shutout win in its last four games with a 3-0 victory over Westminster (Utah) in the Cougars' annual Homecoming Game on Saturday afternoon at Mangrum Soccer Field.

Scott Rice scored twice and tallied an assist on Warren Ashcroft's strike as the Cougars earned their fourth victory in their last five games.

After starting the year 1-5-3, CSUSM sits near .500 at 5-6-3 overall.

“The men played really well today, I was very pleased with the team. I thought that the first half was a very solid 45 minutes. We got the two goals, obviously, and it allowed us to stay on our front foot the rest of the game,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers.

The Cougars played most of the first frame in the Westminster (10-6-2) end. Yuki Hata missed a shot just wide before Eric Lopez cut inside the box to force a save from Damir Sabanovic.

After trapping the Griffins inside their own side, CSUSM was awarded with a throw-in on the left flank. Rice flicked the throw in to the back side of the box and Alex Brunsell headed the ball back towards the top of the box. Ashcroft ran onto it and rocketed a volley past the goalkeeper's right shoulder.

It marked the feisty forward's first goal of the season and Brunsell's seventh assist this year, a new single-season school record.

Minutes later, Ashcroft picked the ball off the Westminster left back on the right sideline before taking a couple of dribbles to the corner. He firmly sent a cross to the center of the box and Rice rose to meet it, heading it perfectly into the left corner.

Sloppy play dictated the early portion of the second stanza, as both teams struggled to deal with the dry heat of the desert afternoon. Still, the Cougars managed to pile up chances.

Alex Jaziri floated a ball to the back of the six, but Lopez's header barely missed the top corner. Moments later, Thor English created his own shot on the left side of the box, driving a low ball that was pushed wide by Sabanovic.

Finally, the Cougars got their insurance goal through the work rate of English, who beat a defender on the right side before playing a cross inside. Lopez flicked the cross on to Rice, who stood all alone eight yards out.

Rice trapped it knee-high, let it fall to his laces, and calmly slotted the ball to the far post with his left foot.

CSUSM will play Bethesda on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Cougar seniors will be honored prior to the contest.