Dominance has defined the UCSD women’s soccer team as of late. Their last away game, played at UC Davis, was a shutout, and in their last two victories the Tritons have scored before their opponent.
The game played on Oct. 13 was no exception. UCSD hosted the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners and won its third-consecutive victory. The Tritons shut out CSUB by a final score of 4-0 after putting the game away with three goals just four minutes into the second half.
Junior midfielder Kristen Conahan struck first for the Tritons at the 32:33 mark of the first half. She scored off a corner kick from fellow junior forward Shannon Harrelson at the far post.
Thanks to a Roadrunner handball in the penalty box, Harrelson scored the next goal on a penalty shot at the 66:30 mark.
Shortly after, Conahan took a pass from senior Lauren Jacobs and scored from 25 yards out, hitting the upper left corner of the Roadrunners’ goal at the 70:33 mark.
Seconds later, sophomore Christine Kwon assisted a goal scored by Harrelson at the 70:51 mark. The two goals scored 18 seconds apart set a new record for consecutive goals in California Collegiate Athletic Association history.
UCSD junior goalkeeper Kami Poma made three saves in 71 minutes of playing time. At the 70:33 mark, Poma was relieved by sophomore Jamie Lautenschleger, who contributed two saves herself. On the other end of the field, Roadrunner goalkeeper Lindsay Bush, despite allowing four goals, made six saves.
Harrelson, a transfer from a Division I school, University of Arizona, has a shooting average of 33.3 percent and has contributed 15 points to the Tritons in the 12 games played this season. Harrelson has also contributed three assists to the team and is the top scorer for UCSD with six goals.
Conahan, however, is not far behind Harrelson on the stat sheet. With five goals, three assists and 13 points, she is the second-leading scorer on the Triton team.
In the first game of their current three-game winning streak, Harrelson scored the winning goal with assists from Conahan and junior Christine Wensel. On Oct. 11, Harrelson and Conahan each scored goals to beat Cal State Stanislaus 2-1.
Sixth-ranked UCSD improves its record to 9-2 in conference play to hold on to first place in the CCAA and remain one game ahead of second-place Cal Poly Pomona. UCSD is 10-2 in overall play.
The Tritons next take on Humboldt State on Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. at Triton Soccer Stadium for a nonconference game. In celebration of UCSD’s 2002 Homecoming, there will be a barbecue and other activities on the field beginning at noon.