LA JOLLA, Calif. - Despite getting out-shot 18-8 on the day, UC San Diego received a pair of late goals over the final 13 minutes from true freshmen Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS) and Danielle Nunn for a 2-0 victory over visiting SF State in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's soccer action at Triton Soccer Stadium on Sunday.
In taking what was virtually another must-win contest, UCSD improved to 8-4-1 overall and 4-3-1 in the CCAA. The Tritons needed this one, as they now face three out of four remaining league matches away from home at tough venues. They moved into a two-way tie for third in the table, with the top six qualifying for the CCAA Tournament. SFSU dropped to 6-4-3 overall and 2-2-3 in league play.
Reilly's goal at 77:52 proved to be the game-winner and was her league-leading eighth. Sophomore Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) took a throw-in on the right sideline and played fellow winger Kiera Bocchino. The Tritons' junior co-captain gave the ball back to McNutt, who crossed for Reilly. Her shot from the right side of the box found the upper left corner.
Nunn's clincher at 86:53 marked her first collegiate strike. Sophomore forward Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) provided the assist, her first, in the form of a right-sided cross, with Nunn accepting the pass on the right side of the penalty area and putting her right-footed shot over the reach of the Gator goalie.
Senior Triton goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky wound up with eight saves in registering her fourth shutout of 2015 and 23rd of her career. Karin Nordin did not have any in the Gator net.
Freshman Megumi Barber had an opportunity to open the scoring in the 68th minute. Junior center back and fellow Mt. Carmel High School graduate Meghan Berry lifted a deep ball forward, and O'Laughlin was able to expertly hold it up before laying off for Barber, who shot over the crossbar from around 15 yards.
Brodsky made an incredible save half an hour into the contest, diving to her left to deny Isabella Nazario a goal on a powerful right-footed shot from the left diagonal. A weird deflection down the left flank in the 75th minute later put Vanessa Penuna in toward goal, one-on-one with Brodsky. The Gator junior tried to lift the ball over the oncoming Brodsky, but was unsuccessful as the Triton veteran grabbed it.
The Tritons are an unbeaten 6-0-4 over their last 10 meetings with SF State.
UCSD now gets ready for its toughest road trip of the season, heading all the way up to Humboldt State on Friday, Oct. 16, and 12th-ranked league leader Sonoma State on Sunday, Oct. 18.
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