SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior midfielder Daniel Cumming’s 43rd-minute goal provided the winning difference for the Cal Poly men’s soccer team as the Mustangs moved atop the Big West Conference standings with a 1-0 victory against UC Davis Sunday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

The Mustangs (4-6-0, 2-0-0) had thrice tested UC Davis goalkeeper Ryan McCowan when Cal Poly sophomore midfielder Jacob Hustedt slid a pass from the left side and through the UC Davis box. Cumming (above) found himself on the receiving end of Hustedt’s pass and rammed the ball into goal from three yards away.

The goal was both Cumming’s second of the season and second game-winning score of the campaign after a 77th-minute strike helped Cal Poly past San Jose State, 2-1, on Sept. 20. Coupled with a 1-0 victory at Cal State Fullerton Sept. 30, Sunday’s victory vaulted Cal Poly into the Big West lead on six points and established a showdown between the Mustangs and equally unbeaten UC Santa Barbara (7-2-1, 1-0-0) on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Kickoff at UC Santa Barbara’s Harder Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Cal Poly, which outshot UC Davis, 18-13, threatened the Aggies from the onset. In the fourth minute, junior midfielder Ryan Anderson picked out junior forward David Zamora in the UC Davis box, but the attempt was stifled by McCowan. Eleven minutes later, Zamora chipped a pass from Anderson over the cross bar. After five more shot attempts, Cal Poly finally broke through against UC Davis behind just Cumming’s fifth shot on target this season.

“We’re pleased with the result and the shutout. We played a better first half and had four very good scoring opportunities before Cumming’s goal. Dan got himself forward and into a good spot and showed good composure in finishing,” said fourth-year Cal Poly head coach Paul Holocher, whose Mustangs improved to 18-3-2 at Alex G. Spanos Stadium in front of 2,032 supporters. “The second half was too choppy for all our liking. In the future, we need to keep attacking and keep possession better.”

Zamora finished with a match-best five shot attempts for Cal Poly, which was whistled offside on four occasions. Junior goalkeeper Patrick McLain made four saves in recording his second-straight shutout.

Cal Poly’s attention now turns toward No. 11 UC Santa Barbara, which defeated No. 7 Indiana on Friday, 3-0. Last year’s fixture between the Mustangs and Gauchos in Santa Barbara drew 9,749 spectators.

“The Big West is as tough a conference as any in the country. UC Santa Barbara is a dynamic team and one of the best in the country,” Holocher added. “We love playing these conference games and know that it will be exciting as it always is between these two Big West programs.”