LA JOLLA, Calif. - Junior striker Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) scored twice within the first 15 minutes and completed her first collegiate hat trick late as the University of California San Diego women's soccer team overwhelmed No. 12 Azusa Pacific, 5-0, in the 2016 season opener for both well-regarded NCAA Division II West Region rivals at Triton Soccer Stadium on Thursday night.
The contest served as an intriguing matchup between the 2015 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament champion and 2016 CCAA favorite UC San Diego (1-0), against 2015 West Region runner-up and 2016 Pacific West Conference (PacWest) favorite APU (0-1).
It ultimately turned into a resounding statement of intent for the Tritons toward all available hardware this season.
It took a mere 27 seconds for O'Laughlin to mark her presence for 2016. Junior Makenzie Brito, making her eighth consecutive start at right back going back to the end of 2015, provided the service from the right. Her cross didn't look incredibly dangerous at the outset, but O'Laughlin got just enough on it from close range, and Cougar goalkeeper Sarah Klinkenberg was unable to keep the ball out of the net.
At 14:05, it was 2-0. This time a left-sided corner kick by fifth-year senior winger Kiera Bocchino was met at the far post by O'Laughlin, who expertly guided her header over the outstretched arms of Klinkenberg.
APU failed to greatly threaten the Triton advantage from there, and the home side grabbed three more over the final 5:20 to make it a romp. O'Laughlin's strike partner, sophomore Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS) opened her 2016 account in the 85th, shooting right-footed off the crossbar and in following a feed from junior left back Aimee Ellis.
Reilly was the 2015 CCAA Freshman of the Year and league's leader with 11 goals, with O'Laughlin just behind at 10 tallies to complete the CCAA's most prolific offensive duo. They looked to have zero let-up.
Less than a minute after Reilly iced the game, O'Laughlin had her hat trick. Fellow junior Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) sent her in one on one with Klinkenberg, who was no match, as O'Laughlin found the left-side netting from the right diagonal.
In the 89th, true freshman Roni Merrill capped the scoring with her first collegiate strike, shooting low into the left side. Brito and sophomore Summer Bales earned assists.
Not to be forgotten among the Tritons' offensive explosion was Itzel Gonzalez. The fifth-year senior patiently waited her turn behind four-year starting goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky, even redshirting the 2015 campaign to set herself up for the top job this season. Gonzalez showed she was up to the task, making a career-high six saves in notching her first career win and shutout. It was just her second start.
Gonzalez made a tough double-save while still a 2-0 game in the 76th minute, first denying a Kelsey Bushman header and surviving the collision to parry Victoria Kovatch's ensuing shot away.
Klinkenberg had three stops for the Cougars.
In addition to Merrill, Lauren Plesse also made her college debut off the bench.
UCSD heads across town to face another top PacWest foe in city rival Point Loma this Tuesday, Sept. 6. Kickoff at PLNU Soccer Field is set for 4:30 p.m. The Sea Lions, two-time reigning PacWest champions, were second behind APU in the league's preseason coaches' poll.
Triton Notes: UC San Diego is now 15-1-1 in season openers in its NCAA Division II era, since 2000 ... The Tritons lead the all-time series with Azusa Pacific, 10-2-1 ... The sides were meeting for the third successive year, with APU a 1-0 victor at home a season ago after UCSD had rallied for a 2-1 double-overtime triumph in La Jolla in 2014 ... Itzel Gonzalez made her first appearance since a home date with Cal State Dominguez Hills on Oct. 30, 2014, and first start since playing all 110 minutes of a 1-1 draw in another home contest with SF State on Oct. 25, 2013.
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