LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego defeated UC Irvine, 2-0, on Saturday at Triton Soccer Stadium, improving to 11-3-5 overall and 7-1-3 in Big West play. The Tritons scored twice in the second half to secure the shutout victory in their regular-season finale. With the win, UC San Diego secured second place in the Big West standings, earning a first-round bye and the opportunity to host a second-round Big West Championship match on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Triton Soccer Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons celebrated their 11-member senior class before kickoff, recognizing
Ellie Trevino,
Chloe Yates,
Alexis Nguyen,
Karize Madero,
Leilah Raad,
Ava Medrano,
Jenna Grider,
Nadira Haddach,
Andrea Guillen,
Cadee Borg, and
Ginny Fronk for their contributions to the program.
UC San Diego came out attacking early, with
Ava Tibor forcing a save in the second minute before the Tritons earned a corner kick.
Leilah Raad,
Olivia Shih, Nguyen, and
Anya Lin each contributed early attempts as the Tritons looked to find the opening goal. Nguyen came close in the 14th minute, striking the left woodwork.
Charlotte Wilfert handled UC Irvine's lone first-half shot on goal in the 25th minute, while the Tritons continued to generate opportunities late in the period.
Jenna Grider, Guillen, and Lin each recorded attempts, but the Anteaters' goalkeeper made four first-half saves to keep the match scoreless at halftime.
The Tritons maintained their attacking pressure after the break, with Wilfert making a save in the 49th minute before UC San Diego generated a stretch of five shots and three corner kicks from the 52nd through 59th minutes. Vostermans and
Kennadi Borg each put attempts on frame as the Tritons continued searching for the breakthrough.
UC San Diego finally broke through in the 80th minute when
Natalie Oca finished a chance off an assist from
Kiki Vostermans to give the Tritons a 1-0 lead.
The Tritons added an insurance goal in the 86th minute, as Shih found the back of the net off an assist from Oca to extend the advantage to 2-0.
The Tritons closed out the shutout victory, limiting the Anteaters to just three total shots and two shots on goal. UC San Diego finished with a commanding 21-3 advantage in shots and an 11-2 edge in shots on goal. Oca led the Tritons with a goal, an assist, and five shots, while Shih added a goal and Wilfert recorded two saves in the shutout.
TRITON TIDBITS
- The Tritons improved to 11-3-5 overall and 7-1-3 in Big West play, securing second place in the conference standings.
- UC San Diego earned a first-round bye in the Big West Championship and will host a second-round match at Triton Soccer Stadium on Saturday, November 7, at 7 p.m.
- UC San Diego finished with a 21-3 advantage in shots and an 11-2 edge in shots on goal.
- Natalie Oca and Olivia Shih recorded their fifth goals of the season.
- Charlotte Wilfert recorded two saves to earn the shutout, this was her 8th shutout of the season.
- The Tritons honored 11 graduating seniors before kickoff: Ellie Trevino, Chloe Yates, Alexis Nguyen, Karize Madero, Leilah Raad, Ava Medrano, Jenna Grider, Nadira Haddach, Andrea Guillen, Cadee Borg, and Ginny Fronk.
QUOTEABLE
UP NEXT
The Tritons turn their attention to the Big West Championship, earning a first-round bye after finishing second in the conference standings. UC San Diego will host the winner of the CSU Northridge vs. CSU Fullerton matchup in the second round on Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Triton Soccer Stadium.
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 inÂ
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 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 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.comÂ
or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
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