SAN DIEGO – Coming off its first overtime win of the season, San Diego continues its stretch of road tests when it travels to UC Riverside to face the Highlanders on Friday at UCR Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
 
USD, which is off to its best start in 13 years, and UC Riverside both enter the game as some of the top teams in the nation in terms of winning percentage as both teams have only one loss on their records. The Toreros, who are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, topped UC Irvine last Friday with a goal in the 98th minute to improve to 2-0 in road contests this season.
 
Meanwhile, the Highlanders are unbeaten at home (4-0-2). However, their last two results, both at home, have been ties against LMU (0-0) and Grand Canyon (1-1).
 
Here is this week's Starting XI preview:
 
I - GAME INFO
at UC Riverside (5-1-2)
Friday, September 27 | 7 p.m.
UCR Soccer Stadium
 
II - HOW TO WATCH
No livestream is available
 
III - HOW TO FOLLOW
Live stats are available at www.usdtoreros.com
 
IV - SERIES HISTORY
USD is 5-2-2 all-time against UC Riverside but has lost two straight. The two sides competed against one another last September, with the Highlanders winning 2-0 in San Diego. The last meeting in Riverside was on September 15, 2016 when the Toreros lost 2-0. The last time USD beat UC Riverside – and scored a goal – was on August 31, 2015 when it won 3-0. The Toreros are 1-1-1 at Riverside (Last win: 2002, W, 2-1).
 
V – KEEPING THEM OFF THE BOARD
Due to mostly five shutouts in seven games this year, USD has allowed just four goals. It is its fewest allowed in the first seven games to a season since 2006 (3 in the first seven; six shutouts). The Toreros have the 13th-best save percentage in the nation (.846), are tied for second among WCC teams in goals allowed, and third in the conference in goals against average (0.56).
 
VI – BERRY GOOD
The team's leading scorer Miguel Berry is among the nation's top goal scorers as well as he is 12th in total goals (6) and 14th in goals per game (0.86). The senior is also eighth in the country in total points (15). He is three goals and points away from matching his career-highs in both categories which were set last season. Berry is also working his way up USD's all-time career goals list, as he enters Friday tied for sixth with 27.
 
CAREER GOALS – USD HISTORY
1. Guillermo Jara (1992-95) – 51
2. Ryan Coiner (1999-02) – 49
3. Patrick Wallen (2009-12) –30
4. Doug Barry (1991-94) – 29
5. Leighton O'Brien (1995-98) – 28
6. Miguel Berry (2016-Current) & Chugger Adair (1990-92) – 27
 
VII – BEST START SINCE…
USD's 6-1 start is their best open to a campaign since 2006 when they started out 7-1 through the first eight games. USD has opened a season 6-1 six times in the last 20 years (7-1 five times).
 
VIII – A WINNING BEGINNING
USD's winning percentage (.857) entered the week tied for the 13th-best in the country. They were also one of 36 teams with one loss or less, with one of those other teams being UC Riverside.
 
IX – BALANCE IN GOALS
With his game-winner at UC Irvine on September 20, Jimmy Ryan became the seventh different Torero to score a goal this season. Last year, eight different Toreros had a goal.
 
X – BAKER'S DOZEN
The Toreros have scored 13 goals in seven games this season, which is three away from tying last season's total of 16 (19 games). USD has scored in all seven games and has registered a goal in 11 straight games dating back to October 26, 2018.
 
XI – UP NEXT
After two-plus weeks on the road, the Toreros will return to Torero Stadium for a matchup against UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, October 1 at 7 p.m.