LA JOLLA, Calif. – Cal Poly's Olivia Ortiz scored in the 53rd minute and the Mustangs' spoiled UC San Diego's season finale with a 1-0 victory over the Tritons on Senior Night at Triton Soccer Stadium. The victory propels the Mustangs (9-6-3 overall, 6-1-3 Big West) to a Big West regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming Big West championship.
UC San Diego concludes its season at 3-10-6 overall and 2-4-4 in Big West action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After an emotional pregame ceremony honoring eight graduating Tritons, UC San Diego settled into the match. Neither team had a shot early, and the Mustangs earned the first corner kick of the night in the 16th minute. Three minutes and a yellow card later, Cal Poly's Monserrat Hernandez Marquez got the first shot on goal of the night, but Triton keeper
Keara Fitzgerald made the save.
The Tritons had one last chance as time was winding down when UC San Diego earned a corner kick with about 10 seconds to play in the half.
Kennedy Carter served it into the box but
Camryn Borg's header sailed high as time expired.
Cal Poly held a 9-3 first half advantage in shots. Each team had a pair of corners.
As the second half began, UC San Diego brought on senior goalkeeper
Grace Vlandis for the first time. She was challenged early, coming up with a big save in the 50th minute.
In the 53rd minute, a goal from Olivia Ortiz gave Cal Poly a 1-0 lead and that score held up.
QUOTABLE WITH HEAD COACH KRISTIN JONES '04 AND CHRISTINA ODDONE
TRITON TIDBITS
- Prior to the match, the Tritons honored eight from their graduating class: Sophia Bruno, Mika Celeste, Kate Hottinger, Emily Killeen, Ashlynn Kolarik, Christina Oddone, Lucy Tang and Grace Vlandis.
- Center back Katelyn Meyer once again played all 90 minutes, remaining second nationally with 3,299 consecutive minutes played.
- Fitzgerald finished the season with a Big West-best 105 saves.
- Tang made her first start of 2022 and the 17th start of her career.
- UC San Diego wore its white kits in the home finale.
- The match completed the Tritons' second competitive Big West season and third year of the program's four-year reclassification to Division I.
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 began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West 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 earned 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.
