SAN DIEGO – San Diego kept consistent pressure for most of Friday's match before breaking through with a goal by George West in the 68th minute to come out victorious, 1-0, over Detroit Mercy at Torero Stadium.
 
The Toreros (3-0-0), who are off to their best start since 2009, had 14 shots (7 on goal) and 11 corners to show a continuous offensive attack on the Titans (1-2-0), but West's shot from outside the top of the penalty area provided the difference. The goal was the first of the season for the redshirt junior.
 
"I want to give Detroit Mercy a lot of credit," said head coach Brian Quinn. "Last game, they lost 8-0 (at Clemson), and I don't think they wanted the game to be open so they set up defensively with eight, nine guys behind the ball. Invariably what happens in those games, if we can get an early goal, that opens the game up. And we didn't get (that early goal). Detroit Mercy kept believing, trying to get to overtime and snatch a goal or get a counterattack. Great credit to our players."
 
While West became the sixth different Torero to score a goal this young season, redshirt sophomore Matt Wiher turned in his second straight shutout by turning away three shots. The goalkeeper has now accumulated six shutouts in 19 career games played.
 
As a team, the back-to-back shutouts are a first for the Toreros, who blanked Cal Poly 3-0 on Monday, since 2017.
 
"Structurally, we were good," added Quinn. "Defensively, we didn't give any clear-cut opportunities. Happy we got the goal, but if we got it a little earlier, there probably would have been more goals."
 
The Toreros' best three-match start in 10 years has not only been powered by Wiher and a backline, but also seven total goals. That amount is the most by USD in its first three contests of a season since 2015 (8).
 
The Toreros will wrap up the weekend at home on Sunday when they face Belmont at noon. The Bruins lost to San Diego State, 2-1, on Friday.