LA JOLLA, Calif. - Playing in front of their home fans
Friday, the Tritons couldn't be stopped.
Anne Wethe sent a header to the back of the net less than four minutes into the
match and Sarah McTigue recorded an insurance score later in the half, guiding
the UC San Diego women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Cal State San Bernardino.
"If you look at the conference stats, we're ahead in corner kicks and free
kicks but we hadn't been converting those chances," UCSD head coach Brian
McManus said. "Tonight, both of our goals came off of set pieces. That's what
wins games in this league."
The win moves the Tritons ahead of the Coyotes in the California Collegiate
Athletic Association standings, as UCSD improves to 5-2-2 overall and 3-2-2 in
conference play. CSUSB falls to 5-3-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the CCAA. The
Coyotes have gone winless in their last four matches, while the Tritons hope to
carry momentum from Friday into their Sunday game at home against Cal Poly
Pomona. Kickoff between UCSD and the Broncos is set for 2:30 p.m.
The Tritons' offense got going early Friday, thanks in part to a splendid
corner kick from the right side by Hayley Johnson. The cross bent toward the
far post for Wethe, who lined a header past CSUSB goalkeeper Tiffany Mallick to
give UCSD a quick 1-0 lead.
About nine minutes later off another corner kick, the ball squirted through the
box to McTigue. An attempt from her was blocked by the Coyotes' defense but a
rebound chance rolled to Ellen Wilson inside six yards from the center of the
box. Mallick came up with the point-blank save though, keeping the margin at
one goal.
After yet another corner kick in the 28th minute, Jessica Wi fired a hard shot
that was also blocked away. This time, McTigue was waiting for the rebound
opportunity and took advantage, shooting past Mallick to bump the score to 2-0.
The Tritons took a 10-6 shot advantage into halftime and the pressure from the UCSD
attack continued in the second period. Another solid chance came in the 75th
minute, when Gabi Hernandez flicked it to the right side of the box for a
charging Lindsay Mills. After a quick dribble, Mills lined a shot off the hands
of Mallick. The ball bounced up for Alexa Enlow, who lifted a header just over
the crossbar.
"The biggest positive for me in tonight's game was how our bench players
performed," McManus said. "Mills, [Sara] Bolton, Enlow. We are going to need
them to step up like they did tonight."
In the end, Tritons' netminder Kristin Armstrong needed just one save to keep
the Coyotes off the scoreboard. It marked Armstrong's 11th-career shutout.
