LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego women's soccer team will begin Big West play for the first time on Thursday, when the Tritons visit Long Beach State. UC San Diego is 2-3 away from home while the Beach is looking for its first home win (0-2).
On Sunday, the Tritons' brief Big West road tour concludes with a conference match at UC Irvine (5-3-0, 3-1-0 at home). That match is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first kick.
Both matches this week can be seen live on ESPN+.
DETAILS
Match 9
UC San Diego (2-5-1, 0-0-0 Big West) at Long Beach State (3-4-1, 0-0-0 Big West)
Thursday, September 23
6 p.m.
George Allen Field, Long Beach
Watch on ESPN+ |
Live Stats
Series Record: Long Beach State leads, 8-0-1
Last Meeting: LBSU 1, at UC San Diego 0 (1986)
Match 10
UC San Diego (2-5-1, 0-0-0 Big West) at UC Irvine (3-4-1, 0-0-0 Big West)
Sunday, September 26
1 p.m.
Anteater Stadium, Irvine
Watch on ESPN+ |
Live Stats
Series Record: UC San Diego leads, 11-2-3
Last Meeting: UC San Diego 2, at UC Irvine 0 (1992)
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 2-5-1
Big West: 0-0-0
Home: 0-2-1
Away: 2-3-0
Neutral: 0-0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-1-0
Streak: L1
TRITONS, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
| Stat |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Goals |
9 |
18 |
| Goals/Game |
1.13 |
2.25 |
| Shots |
90 |
123 |
| Shots/Game |
11.3 |
15.4 |
| Shots on Goal |
39 |
63 |
| Corner Kicks |
51 |
32 |
| YC-RC-Fouls |
0-0-63 |
2-0-53 |
| PKs (Goals) |
3 (2) |
1 (1) |
ABOUT THE BEACH
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 3-4-1
Big West: 0-0-0
Home: 0-2-0
Away: 3-2-1
Neutral: 0-0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-1-0
Streak: L2
ABOUT THE ANTEATERS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 5-3-0
Big West: 0-0-0
Home: 3-1-0
Away: 2-2-0
Neutral: 0-0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-1-0
Streak: W1
UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention.
For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University's
Return to Learn site.
ATTENDING THE GAMES
Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California, the County of San Diego and the Big West Conference, fans are permitted to attend home games at Triton Soccer Stadium. However,
all fans are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within the last 48 hours. All fans must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth at all times and food is not permitted inside the stadium. For more information,
click here.
Admission to UC San Diego home soccer matches is free, but parking permits are required seven days per week on campus. For UC San Diego Parking information,
click here.
GAME DAY HAS A NEW LOOK
Triton fans now have a whole new way to access game day information, as game programs have gone digital! Fans can visit
UCSDTritons.com/WSgameday from their smart phone or scan the QR code at the entrance to Triton Soccer Stadium for everything they need to know about each home game, including updated rosters, schedules, and stats for each team, as well as links to watch on ESPN+.
COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at Triton Soccer Stadium this season must notify a member of the Athletics Communication staff no later than 10 a.m. on gameday. All media members will need to complete a UC San Diego symptom screening form on the day of the match prior to arriving on campus.
Following the conclusion of each home game, a video highlight melt and video postgame interviews will be made available for media members to download.
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has begun a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the
Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
LONG-AWAITED DEBUT
The 2021 season marks the Triton soccer programs' first in Division I. The Big West Conference canceled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LAST TIME OUT
A late goal on a penalty kick from
Caitlin McCarthy would not be enough for UC San Diego at home on Sunday afternoon. Grand Canyon had the second half momentum, as the Antelopes beat the Tritons, 4-1, at Triton Soccer Stadium.
BIG WEST BONUS
Despite being a showdown between two Big West teams, Thursday's match at CSUN (Sept. 16) was a non-conference match. The regularly scheduled conference game will take place in La Jolla on Oct. 3.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
UC San Diego sophomore
Kennedy Carter scored a pair of goals – including the game-winner in the 59th minute – as the Tritons won a non-conference match at CSUN, 2-1, on Sept. 16. A converted defender, Carter leads the Tritons and ranks second in the Big West with four goals this season. She was named
UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week for the second time on Sept. 20.
CARTER CREATES HISTORY
Kennedy Carter scored off a corner kick in the 94th minute to lift the Tritons to a 2-1 overtime victory over Southern Utah (Aug. 31). The win marked UC San Diego's first as a Division I program. For her efforts, Carter was recognized as a UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week (Sept. 6).
GAME WINNERS
THE BAGS WERE PACKED!
After battling Texas Tech to a 1-1 draw on Aug. 22 at Triton Soccer Stadium, UC San Diego began the first of five consecutive road matches at UNLV on Aug. 29. The Tritons did not play at home until Sept. 19 vs. Grand Canyon. The last time UC San Diego had a five-match road trip was in 2016, when the Tritons played six consecutive matches away from home – including four conference matches and the CCAA (Division II) conference tournament. The Tritons went 6-0-0 in that stretch.
BACK IN THE SADDLE
After an unexpected 636-day layoff, the Tritons opened their first Division I season by hosting Cal and Texas Tech at Triton Soccer Stadium (Aug. 19-22).
CARTER SHOWCASES HER VERSATILITY
After playing as a defender in her first season at Utah, sophomore transfer
Kennedy Carter has converted to a forward at UC San Diego. She scored the Tritons' first goal of the season (Aug. 22) in a 1-1 draw with Texas Tech.
TAYLOR IS THE [ZERO] ONE
Sophomore GK
Grace Taylor saw her first career action in net for UC San Diego against Cal and Texas Tech, combining to make 19 saves over those two matches. One of three goalkeepers on the Tritons' roster, Taylor sports the very unusual 01 on her jersey.
TAYLOR TAKES OVER
With a little help from her teammates,
Grace Taylor conducted an Instagram takeover on the primary UC San Diego channel on Sept. 3. For more, visit
UC San Diego on Instagram.
GOING POLLING
The Big West has revealed the preseason poll and preseason All-Conference squad as determined by the conference's head coaches. As the Tritons head into their first year in the Big West, they were picked ninth with 34 points in the coaches poll. Long Beach State was picked to finish first and defending champ Cal State Fullerton was selected second.
TEAM CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are
Kameryn Hoban,
Delaney Whittet, and
Natalie Widmer. The trio also captained the 2020 squad.
PASSION FOR COOKING, HEALTHY EATING FUELS HOBAN ON & OFF PITCH
Captain
Kameryn Hoban has created an Instagram account dedicated to healthy eating and her creative recipes, making the most of whatever ingredients she has on hand. To learn more about what's on Kam's plate, check out this
feature story written by fellow captain
Delaney Whittet.
HEAD COACH KRISTIN JONES '04
One of the most decorated players to come through the renowned UC San Diego women's soccer program, Kristin Jones is in her third season as the program's head coach. The former Triton standout became assistant with the program in 2004 and was elevated to associate head coach in 2015.
GETTING THE CALL
Triton alum Itzel Gonzalez '16 has put together a memorable professional career to date. The starting goalkeeper for Club Tijuana in LigaMX Feminil, Gonzalez has received multiple call-ups to the Mexican national team – most recently last week. Listen to an interview with Gonzalez about her time as a Triton and representing her country in
episode 4 of Tritoncast.
TRITON SOCCER STADIUM GETS A NEW LOOK
While the team was unable to compete last year because of the pandemic,
Triton Soccer Stadium underwent a renovation to prepare for Division I. The venue now features 663 blue fixed seats, a brand-new Triton-gold press box, ADA and companion seating, and new international-style field side signage.
GOING OUT ON TOP
UC San Diego ended its Division II era by capturing its fifth straight CCAA conference tournament title in 2019.
McMANUS TO BE INDUCTED INTO UC SAN DIEGO HALL OF FAME
Former UC San Diego head coach Brian McManus has been named to the Tritons Hall of Fame Class of 2021, along with swimmer
Daniel Perdew and volleyball outside hitter Molly Wheatley (Hooks). The trio will be inducted in November. McManus is the fourth from the women's soccer program to become a Hall of Famer, joining Heather (Mauro) Hilliard (Class of 2019), Julia Cuder (2014), and Ele Johnson (2013). Heather Hilliard is the mother of current Triton freshman
Courtney Hilliard.
MUIR MANIA
There's something about John Muir College that suits this program. 17 of the 27 scholar-athletes on the women's soccer roster are enrolled in Muir. Six members of the program attend Eleanor Roosevelt College, three are in Thurgood Marshall, and goalkeeper
Keara Fitzgerald is enrolled in Seventh College. For more on UC San Diego's unique college system,
click here.
WHAT'S NEXT
UC San Diego will host its first Big West home match on Sept. 30, when the Tritons welcome CSU Bakersfield to Triton Soccer Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will be televised on ESPN+.
UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home men's and women's basketball games, men's and women's soccer matches, men's and women's volleyball matches, baseball and softball games are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego soccer, visit
UCSDTritons.com/live.
UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS LAUNCHES WEEKLY PODCAST
As part of UC San Diego's transition to Division I, the Athletics Department launched a weekly podcast,
Tritoncast. Produced by UC San Diego Athletics Communications, Tritoncast features in-depth interviews with UC San Diego personalities including scholar-athletes, alums, coaches, and administrators. Triton fans will get an inside look at the UC San Diego Athletics Department as the program transitions to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. New episodes of Tritoncast are available each week on the most popular podcasting apps, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Audible, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and Vurbl. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on Twitter
@Tritoncast.
GET SOCIAL WITH UC SAN DIEGO SOCCER
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through
Twitter,
Facebook, and
Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdwsoc.
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories,
click here.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
