LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego women's soccer played at home for the first time in the 2023 season, dropping a hard-fought 1-0 exhibition match to San Diego at Triton Soccer Stadium on Saturday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Toreros applied pressure out of the gate, firing three shots on goal in the first 15 minutes of the match. UC San Diego keeper
Keara Fitzgerald was up to the challenge, making an impressive save in each instance. The Tritons settled in and mounted some pressure of their own, but the match was scoreless at the half. Senior captain
Kennedy Carter made some especially strong runs over the first 45.
In the 86th minute, USD's Olivia Stone fired a shot from the top of the box, but
Katelyn Meyer came up with a big block to keep the match scoreless. The Toreros earned a penalty kick in the 88th minute when UC San Diego was issued a yellow card, and Bella Piete converted to give the visitors the lead late.
QUOTABLE
"Tonight I was pleased with the great strides we made from Wednesday [match vs. Grand Canyon]," said UC San Diego head coach
Kristin Jones. "We know there are things we need to clean up before Thursday night, but if we continue to make progress we'll be in good shape."
TRITON TIDBITS
- Temperature at game time was 68 degrees.
- Saturday was UC San Diego's first appearance on the Triton Soccer Stadium pitch since Oct. 27, 2022 – last year's regular season finale.
- Fitzgerald had a terrific night, finishing with seven saves.
- UC San Diego is set to compete in its third Division I season.
- The Toreros switched goalkeepers at the half. After Sophine Kevorkian played the first 45 minutes, Ilise Medrano came in for the second half.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego officially opens its 2023 season on Thursday when the Tritons visit Pacific. The match is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick-off from Stockton, with live stats available on UCSDTritons.com.
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 84 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
