LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego women's soccer concludes the 2023 season on Thursday night when the Tritons travel north to take on first place Cal Poly for a 7 p.m. match in San Luis Obispo. The match will air live on ESPN+ with a live stats link on UCSDTritons.com.
The Tritons are in search of their first victory over the Mustangs since joining The Big West prior to the 2021 season. Last year, Cal Poly spoiled UC San Diego's senior night with a 1-0 win in La Jolla. Two seasons ago, the Mustangs earned a 3-2 overtime win on the turf at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
DETAILS
Match 18
UC San Diego (4-8-5, 3-3-3 Big West) at Cal Poly (8-6-3, 6-2-1 Big West)
Thursday, October 26
7 p.m.
Alex G. Spanos Stadium, San Luis Obispo
ESPN+ |
Live Stats
Series Record: Cal Poly leads, 4-0 (CP 2-0 in Division I)
Last Meeting: Cal Poly 1 at UC San Diego 0 (Oct. 27, 2022)
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 4-8-5
Big West: 3-3-3
Home: 3-3-2
Away: 1-5-3
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: T1
TRITONS, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
| Stat |
UCSD |
Opp. |
| Goals |
21 |
29 |
| Goals/Game |
1.24 |
1.71 |
| Shots |
182 |
234 |
| Shots/Game |
10.7 |
13.8 |
| Shots on Goal |
84 |
121 |
| Corner Kicks |
64 |
76 |
| YC-RC-Fouls |
16-0-159 |
7-0-153 |
| PKs (Goals) |
0 (0) |
3 (2) |
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 8-6-3
Big West: 6-2-1
Home: 4-2-1
Away: 4-4-2
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-2-1
Streak: W1
GAME DAY GOES WITH YOU
Triton fans can access game day information by visiting
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+.
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program will conclude a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of
The Big West for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
LAST TIME OUT
UC San Diego (4-8-5 overall, 3-3-3 Big West) closed out its final home match of the season on Sunday surrounded by family and friends celebrating the team's eight seniors, all of whom played an integral role in holding off a determined UC Riverside to a scoreless tie inside Triton Soccer Stadium. UC San Diego remains in seventh and UCR sits at tenth in The Big West following Sunday's result.
LAST TIME VS. THE MUSTANGS (10/27/22)
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 propelled the Mustangs (9-6-3 overall, 6-1-3 Big West) to a Big West regular season title and the top seed in the Big West championship.
UC San Diego concluded its season at 3-10-6 overall and 2-4-4 in Big West action.
PARK, NGUYEN CAPTURE BIG WEST HONORS
Sophomore
Lindsey Park was named Big West Offensive Player of the Week and first year Triton
Alexis Nguyen captured Big West Freshman of the Week recognition on Monday.
A native of Torrance, Park is the first Triton women's soccer scholar-athlete to earn Big West Offensive Player of the Week accolades. She scored twice and added an assist in the Tritons' victory over CSUN on Thursday night in La Jolla. Her seven-point outburst marked a new career high.
Nguyen assisted on a pair of goals in that win over the Matadors. The Stevenson Ranch product has started all 17 UC San Diego matches. She has registered five helpers so far this season – second most amongst Big West freshmen. Nguyen is the second Triton all-time to be named Big West Freshman of the Week in women's soccer, joining
Allie Luo who was recognized last season.
UC San Diego's five goal output in Thursday night's victory over CSUN gave the Tritons their most scores in any Division I match during the program's first three Division I seasons.
KILLEEN COMES BACK!
Grad student
Emily Killeen finally got on the pitch at Long Beach (Oct. 15) after missing the first 15 matches this season and playing just 25 minutes all of 2022 due to injury. Killeen was sidelined for the duration of the 2021 campaign as well (and the 2020 season was not played due to COVID-19). She saw the pitch in 17 matches in 2019 – the program's final NCAA Division II season.
THANK YOU, GRADUATING CLASS!
Prior to Sunday's match vs. UC Riverside, the Tritons honored eight seniors (six seniors and a pair of grad students) who played their final home match at Triton Soccer Stadium.
Camryn Borg,
Kennedy Carter,
Keara Fitzgerald, Emily Killeen,
Sarah Kowack, Mackenzie May, Katelyn Meyer, and
Lizzy Teran were all recognized and thanked for their immense contributions to the program.
FREQUENT FLYER MILES
UC San Diego women's soccer coaches and scholar-athletes are earning their wings this season. The Tritons' match at Hawai'i marked the third time zone and fourth state in which UC San Diego has played a match this season. The Tritons played at Oregon State (Aug. 24) as well as two matches in Rhode Island in late August/early September. In all, UC San Diego traveled 13,146 air miles this season.
FIRST TIMERS
Second year Tritons
Talisa Lin and
Sarah Kowack scored their first career goals in UC San Diego's match vs. San Diego State (Sept. 7). First year Triton
Karize Madero notched her first goal in the victory at UC Davis (Oct. 1).
ROCKET LEADS THE WAY
Junior
Raquel Kalpakoff leads the Tritons – fourth most in The Big West – with five goals scored this season off the bench. Kalpakoff's five goals equals a program best for a season in Division I, matching
Kennedy Carter's five scores in the 2021 campaign.
KALPAKOFF BREAKS THROUGH
Raquel Kalpakoff had a breakout game in the season opener at Pacific (Aug. 17). She scored three second half goals in a span of 11 minutes as the Tritons rallied from 3-0 and 4-1 second half deficits to earn a draw on the road. Her hat trick marked her first three career goals. On Aug. 28, she was named UCU Athlete of the Week, and she earned that honor again Oct. 2.
BIG WEST STANDINGS
| Team |
Big West Record |
Points |
This Week |
| Cal Poly |
6-2-1 |
19 |
vs. UCSD |
| Cal State Fullerton |
5-1-3 |
18 |
@CSB |
| UC Davis |
5-2-2 |
17 |
@UCI |
| Long Beach State |
4-3-2 |
14 |
vs. UH |
| Hawai'i |
4-4-1 |
13 |
@LBSU |
| UC Irvine |
3-2-4 |
13 |
vs. UCD |
| UC San Diego |
3-3-3 |
12 |
@CP |
| Cal State Bakersfield |
2-4-3 |
9 |
vs. CSF |
| UC Santa Barbara |
2-6-2 |
8 |
bye |
| UC Riverside |
2-5-2 |
8 |
@CSUN |
| CSUN |
1-5-3 |
6 |
vs. UCR |
BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP IMPLICATIONS
Thursday's match carries Big West Women's Soccer Championship implications. The Mustangs will clinch the top spot in the six-team tournament with a win over UC San Diego on Thursday. Should the Tritons win, they would earn a top six finish in The Big West standings. However, the conference has elected not to include UC San Diego in its postseason events during the Tritons' transition to Division I. As a result of that conference decision, the Big West championship field is set with only seeding still to be determined. The Tritons' season will end following Thursday's match, regardless of outcome.
TALISA & TERAN TAKE OVER
During the team's trip to Rhode Island, sophomore back
Talisa Lin conducted a takeover of the team's Instagram account at
@ucsdwsoc.
Lizzy Teran ran the account during UC San Diego's trip to Hawai'i and UC Davis.
KEARA KEEPS BUSY
UC San Diego goalkeeper
Keara Fitzgerald is second in The Big West with 5.24 saves per game. Fitzy came up big in net for the Tritons last season, leading The Big West with 105 saves while posting four clean sheets. Over the summer, Fitzgerald played for
South Georgia Tormenta FC in the USL W League.
LOGGING MINUTES IN THE BACKFIELD
Defender
Katelyn Meyer has played every minute of every match so far this season after doing so in both the 2022 and 2021 seasons as well. She was an All-Big West Second Team selection in 2022. Meyer enters this week with 53 consecutive matches started dating back to 2021.
CENTER BACK BRINGING ALGAE BACK
In her free time, grad student defender
Katelyn Meyer volunteers for Smith Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studying red algae and exploring its possible role in reducing the impact of climate change.
Read the full feature on UCSDTritons.com.
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 fifth 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. Her career head coaching record stands at 47-33-16 (.573).
TEAM CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are forward
Kennedy Carter, goalkeeper
Keara Fitzgerald, and midfielder
Courtney Hilliard.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Sophomore midfielders
Caitlin Wilson and
Corinne Wilson hope to have Triton opponents seeing double on the pitch. The sisters – both bioengineering majors in Sixth College – are one of 22 sets of twins playing in Division I this season.
22 TRITONS MAKE COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL
22 members of the UC San Diego women's soccer team were honored for their work in the classroom by being named to the 2022 Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Natalie Abel, Camryn Borg, Mika Celeste, Ava D'Arcangelo, Lucy Granger, Courtney Hilliard, Kate Hottinger, Raquel Kalpakoff, Ashlynn Kolarik, Talisa Lin, Allie Luo, Lindsey Park, Lauren Rocco, Lizzy Teran, Caitlin Wilson and Corinne Wilson all earned Highest Honors for maintaining a cumulative GPA between 3.51 and 4.0.
Keara Fitzgerald,
Emily Killeen,
Katelyn Meyer and
Lucy Tang were all recognized With Honors for maintaining a GPA between 3.21 and 3.50.
Sarah Kowack and
Grace Vlandis both earned a spot on the Honor Roll for posting a GPA between 3.00 and 3.20.
GOING OUT ON TOP
UC San Diego ended its Division II era by capturing its fifth straight CCAA conference tournament title in 2019.
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.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
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. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on Twitter
@Tritoncast.
WOMEN'S SOCCER ON TRITONCAST
GET SOCIAL WITH UC SAN DIEGO SOCCER
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through
X,
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 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 84 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.
