MOSCOW, Idaho – Triton junior
Lindsey Park scored her first goal of the season but Idaho's Margo Schoesler scored twice and the host Vandals edged the Tritons, 2-1, Thursday night inside the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Sophomore goalkeepers
Ginny Fronk and
Bella Barretto combined to make five saves for UC San Diego (1-5).
The Vandals improved to 4-2 with the win – their third triumph in the last four matches.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Idaho took the early lead in the 24th minute when Schoesler collected a loose ball and fired a shot that was deflected into the back of the net to give the Vandals a one-nil advantage – a score that would hold up through the remainder of the half. Park ripped a shot in the 29th minute that was saved by Idaho goalkeeper Paula Flores – the Tritons' lone shot on goal in the first half. In the 31', freshman
Lana Gilligan had a quality look from inside the box, but her shot was wide.
UC San Diego controlled play towards the end of the first half but was unable to break through. That changed shortly after halftime when the Tritons earned the equalizer. Senior captain
Courtney Hilliard raced up the left side into the box and, from the goal line, played a terrific through ball back to a cutting Park who finished from the six to level the score at 1-1 in the 48'.
In the 72', Idaho regained the lead off a corner. Schoesler scored for the second time on a half bicycle kick through traffic. UC San Diego refused to give in, and the Tritons came oh-so-close on a rocket shot from
Skylar Enge that clanked off the crossbar in the 81st minute.
The Tritons had two more scoring chances in the final four minutes, but Flores made the saves and Idaho hung on for the win.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Park's goal was the fifth of her UC San Diego career, with Courtney Hilliard notching her second assist of the season and seventh career helper.
- Ginny Fronk and Bella Barretto split time in net Thursday, with Fronk playing the first half and Barretto the second. Barretto earned her first collegiate playing time for UC San Diego, making a pair of saves.
- Thursday was the first indoor match in UC San Diego program history and the second this season on an artificial surface.
- Idaho has won both contests between these two sides, with the prior meeting taking place in 2022 at Triton Soccer Stadium.
- The Tritons wore their white kits Thursday night with the keepers in red.
QUOTABLE
"Though the result didn't show it, I thought this was our best performance of the season," said UC San Diego head coach
Kristin Jones '04. "We implemented some tactical adjustments at the half and the execution was great.
Kailey Park's performance was the best since she's been with us. Our front five was dangerous and assertive and we need to maintain that effort moving forward."
UP NEXT
UC San Diego remains in the northwest on Sunday when the Tritons visit Washington State. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Lower Soccer Field in Pullman, with live coverage on ESPN+ and live statistics 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 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.
