LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 3rd-ranked UC San Diego women's soccer team successfully defended its conference title on Sunday, defeating Chico State by a 4-0 score at the 2006 California Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Soccer Championship on Triton Soccer Field.
With the victory, the Tritons captured their sixth CCAA championship in seven years. UC San Diego, the top ranked team in the Far West Region, improved its overall record to 18-1-2 while the Wildcats dropped to 13-4-4. UCSD extends its win streak to nine while running its unbeaten streak to 13. The Tritons are 11-0-2 since losing to Chico State on September 17 in Chico. UCSD has out-scored its opponents by a 37-6 margin during that time span.
Megan Dickey redirected a shot by Kelly Mayo with 30 seconds left to play in the first half to give UCSD a 1-0 lead. Mayo took a shot from 15 yards out through traffic that found Dickey, who tapped in the shot. It was Dickey's second goal of the tournament as she scored the goal in Friday's 1-0 semifinal win over Humboldt State.
The Tritons extended the lead to 2-0 when Kelly Cochran scored her 10th goal of the year in the 52nd minute. Lauren Segars assisted on Cochran's goal. Kathy Sepulveda put the match out of reach with a shot to the left corner from 12 yards out with 17 minutes left to go. Dickey was credited with the assist on the goal. Natasha Belak-Berger added a fourth score in the 87th minute.
In a match-up of last year's semifinal game, UC San Diego controlled the ball on both sides of the field for most of the contest. The Tritons managed 20 shots with eight on frame and completely shutdown the Wildcat offense limiting them to just two shots on goal.
The four-goal margin is the largest in a CCAA championship tournament final match since 2003 when UCSD defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills, 5-1.
The victory all but assures the Tritons of hosting next week's NCAA Far West Regional Tournament that will feature the top four teams in the region. The NCAA will announce the field of 32 for its postseason tournament at 2 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
Chico State (13-4-4) vs. UC San Diego (18-1-2)
Date: Oct 29, 2006 Attendance: 649 Weather: Clear and mild... 74 degrees.
Goals by period 1 2 Tot
Chico State 0 0 - 0
UC San Diego 1 3 - 4
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 44:30 UCSD DICKEY, Megan (8) (MAYO, Kelly) - quick strike off pass
2. 51:42 UCSD COCHRAN, Kelly (10) (SEGARS, Lauren) - from six yards out from saved shot
3. 72:40 UCSD SEPULVEDA, Kathy (10) (DICKEY, Megan) - poke to left corner of net from 12 yards
4. 86:18 UCSD BELAK-BERGER, Natash (2) (unassisted) - Strike from right angle, 30 yards out
Shots: Chico State 5, UC San Diego 20
Saves: Chico State 4 (GONZALES, Kari 4), UC San Diego 2 (McGOVERN, Jessica 2)
