Final Stats

IRVINE, Calif. -- Sophomore Matt Gooden broke a scoreless contest in the 67th minute to lift the LMU men's soccer team past UC Irvine, 1-0, Wednesday night at Anteater Stadium.

Gooden's score, the first of his career, came on a rebound off a free kick by Mark Dotseth. UC Irvine's (1-5-0) netminder made the initial save off Dotseth's bend, but Gooden drove in and fired the lose ball into the back of the net to put LMU (4-3-0) on the board.

Collin Partee registered his second straight shutout, matching a season-high with nine stop in between the pipes.

In a quiet first half, the Anteaters threatened to light the scoreboard first in the 31st minute as Michael Sperbert struck a laser from 35 yards out, but Partee got his gloves on the ball to tip it wide, preserving the draw heading into the break.

LMU was able to muster six shots in the opening half, though none managed to reach within the crossbars, while UC Irvine took four, including three on frame.

66 minutes in, a Dotseth free kick from just outside the box was cleared away, but Dotseth would get a second chance one minute later. The senior capitalized on the following free kick, slicing the Lions first shot on frame that was initially saved, but Gooden was there for the rebound to break the stalemate.

UC Irvine pressed furiously in the final 13 minutes of action, firing off six of its 11 second half shots in the waning minutes of play.

However, the Lions defense held firm as Partee tabbed his final three saves of the night and the remaining trio were blocked as the Lions preserved the 1-0 shutout.

LMU will return to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 18 against CSU Bakersfield at Sullivan Field. Match time is set for 4 p.m.