FORT COLLINS, Colo. – UC San Diego had its five-match unbeaten streak snapped on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Colorado State at CSU Soccer Field. Triton grad student Natalie Abel scored directly off a corner kick for UC San Diego (2-2-3).  
 
With the win, the Rams strengthened their case for a top 25 appearance, improving to 6-0 – the best start in program history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego was aggressive out of the gate and applied pressure on the Rams. However, Colorado State got the scoring started in the 11th minute, when Michaela McGowan shot with the left foot and found the back of the net.
 
As they've done so often this season, the Tritons were undeterred and struck right back. Abel leveled the match in the 17th minute with her tally. She took a corner kick and scored with the ball untouched from the corner on its way into the back of the net. That Olimpico was Abel's second goal in as many matches.
 
Despite being on its heels for much of the first half, Colorado State outshot UC San Diego, 7-2, over the first 45 minutes.
 
In the second half, the home team took the lead in the 55th minute. McGowan fed Olivia Fout and her goal put the Rams back on top. CSU continued to apply pressure, but Jenna Grider made some key blocks on the back line to keep the match within reach.
 
When time running down, UC San Diego earned a corner in the 90th minute. Abel fed the ball into the box, but the shot from Talisa Lin was off target and the Rams ran out the clock to remain perfect on the season.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The goal by Natalie Abel was the eighth of her career, and her sixth as a Triton.
• Sophomore forward Lana Gilligan made her first start of the season for the Tritons.
• UC San Diego goalkeeper Charlotte Wilfert had another strong outing, making five saves. Her 4.43 saves per game is tops in The Big West.
• The Tritons suffered their first setback against a Mountain West opponent this season (2-1-1).
• The Tritons wore their navy kits, with Wilfert in baby blue.

QUOTABLE
"That first half was the best half of soccer we've played this season," said UC San Diego head coach Kristin Jones '04. "We were really disciplined, had aggressive runs, and it was a great response [to CSU's early goal]. To be honest, after eight days away from home, I thought we ran out of steam and weren't brave on the ball in the second half like we were early. Give them credit; their press was aggressive and a challenge for us towards the end."
 
UP NEXT
The Tritons are back in La Jolla for their next three matches, covering the end of non-conference play and the start of Big West action. Next up, UC San Diego hosts Washington State Thursday night at Triton Soccer Stadium. The match kicks off at 7 p.m. and admission is free. There will be a live broadcast on ESPN+ and live stats 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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.