RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Miguel Berry scored the game-deciding goal in the 49th minute while
Matt Wiher and the San Diego backline registered another shutout as the Toreros took down UC Riverside, 1-0, on Friday at UCR Soccer Stadium.
USD (7-1), continuing its best start in 13 years, broke through with the second-half goal by Berry and was forced to survive through a flurry of shots by UC Riverside (5-2-2) in the final 40 minutes. Both sides finished with 12 shots, but for the Highlanders, 11 of their attempts came after Berry's tally.
Matt Wiher made all three saves he was asked to make to help the USD defense get its sixth shutout of the year.
Berry scored his team-leading seventh goal, assisted by
Freddy Polzer, to cap an attack by the Toreros that started in the later stages of the first half. In the final nine minutes of the opening 45, the Toreros took four shots to create pressure on the UC Riverside defense. USD did not relent out of the break, though, as evidenced by an offsides, errant shot by Berry and back-to-back corner kicks to precede the lone goal of the game in the 49th minute.
The increase in USD intensity was seemingly spurred by a yellow card issued to
Aaron Frey in the 32nd minute. The yellow was one of five issued in the game as Berry drew one in the second half and the Highlanders received three.
While a yellow sparked USD's offense, Berry's goal ignited the UC Riverside offensive fire. The Highlanders had three shots over five minutes immediately after the goal, but each effort was denied by Wiher. The Highlanders went on to take eight more off-target shots in the second half.
Of the 12 USD shots, six were taken by Berry, including three on goal.
The win was USD's third on the road this season, making it the first time since 2009 that the Toreros won the first three road games in a season.
The victory also snapped a two-game losing streak to UC Riverside.
USD returns home for its next match on Tuesday, October 1 when it hosts UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. at Torero Stadium.
NOTES
Toreros are unbeaten in their last six matches on the road dating back to last season.
USD improved to 6-2-2 all-time against UC Riverside.
Of the 14 USD goals this season, 12 have been scored in the second half.
Berry's goal moved him into a tie for fifth in USD history with 28 career goals.
