SEATTLE, Wash. ? The 13th-ranked UC San Diego women's soccer team had its 2005 season come to an end with a 2-0 loss to 2nd-ranked Seattle Pacific in the NCAA Far West Region Final on Saturday afternoon at Interbay Stadium in Seattle.
The undefeated Falcons (19-0-3) will host a national quarterfinal game next Saturday (Nov. 19) afternoon. They meet the winner of the Midwest final between No. 1 Metro State and Regis to be played Sunday in Denver.
After UC San Diego (18-4-0) dictated play during the first half, Seattle Pacific emerged from the locker room as the aggressor and quickly capitalized on a Tritons error.
Five minutes into the period, Meredith Teague lifted a high cross into the box which bounced high off the turf. A backpedaling UCSD goalkeeper, Mia Shirley, allowed the ball to go over her outstretched arms and into the net. The goal, at 50:36, came on the second SPU shot of the game.
While the visitors were still reeling from the score, Sarah Martinez added another. At 53:10, she took down a high ball at the top of the box, touched it twice and fired right-footed into the left corner.
It was the 16th goal of the season for Martinez, eight coming in the last seven games. She had the overtime game-winner in Thursday?s first-round win over Chico State. Martinez cracked a 16-yard shot which Shirley went down to push around the post in the 70th minute.
After being out-shot 10-1 in the first half, SPU turned the tables and owned an 8-2 advantage in the second. Jennifer Burns made three saves for her seventh and the team's 12 shutout of the season.
UC San Diego missed two early opportunities to take command. In the 9th minute, Megan Dickey?s 22-yard free kick caromed off the left post. Burns then leaped to tip away another Dickey free kick three minutes later.
In the second half, the only UCSD threat, a hard ball across the crease by Alise Malley, was tackled away from the feet of Dickey.
