The No. 3 UCSD women’s soccer squad found themselves against the top ranked team in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. Metro State from Denver, Colo., went into the match against UCSD undefeated with a 17 shutouts. UCSD broke through their defense, winning 3-2 and advancing to the Final Four.
Guardian
UCSD was led by California Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player and senior forward Kristin Jones, who scored two goals on the day. Fellow senior midfielder Kristen Conahan accounted for the third goal for the Tritons.
Both teams played with high intensity early on, barely missing goals in a counter-attack frenzy. The first tally came at the 13 minute mark when freshman midfielder Kelly Cochran earned a penalty kick from 25 yards out. Senior defender Christine Wensel bent the free kick into the box and Conahan managed to score by redirecting the ball with her head. Conahan’s goal set the tone for the rest of the match, with UCSD owning every ball in the air.
UCSD had reason to be happy with a 1-0 lead at halftime. Metro State had trailed only twice all year, and never going into the half. But the mood turned somber when senior defender Megan Mendoza, an integral part of the Triton midfield, had to be helped off of the field after a nasty collision with Metro State goalkeeper Mandy Allen.
Asked about the extent of the injury after the game, UCSD head coach Brian McManus said, “”I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it.”” Mendoza missed the playoffs last year due to injury.
Momentum played a large role in the seesaw battle, and after Mendoza left the game, Metro State capitalized on a swing in their favor. Elin Otter headed a corner passed UCSD senior goalie Kami Poma at the 52 minute mark. Following the goal, Metro State stepped up their pressure on the Triton defensive four.
But UCSD weathered the storm and answered with Jones’ first goal. Freshman midfielder Megan Dickey played a throw-in toward Jones, who was stationed in front of the net. Jones flicked the ball onward and it eluded the Metro State goalie, sneaking past the goal line.
“”I just put it in the mixer to see what would happen,”” Jones said of her flick, which looked to be a potential pass.
But Metro State countered with a header from Meisha Pyke.
Losing their lead did not decrease the intensity of the Tritons. Just one minute after Metro State’s equalizer, Jones scored the game winning goal. Off of a corner by senior midfielder Amy Goker, Jones ran near post and leaped into the air to get a head on the cross.
Up 3-2 with 25 minutes to play, UCSD had to play defensively the rest of the match, including numerous set pieces where Metro State sent everyone but the goalie into the box in desperate attempts to square the match.
“”I’m a pressure player, most of us are,”” Poma said. “”We picked our heads up after [Metro State’s] goals.””
Scoring three goals against perhaps the best defense they have faced all year didn’t take any special preparations.
“”We just keep playing the way we play,”” McManus said. “”This point in the season you don’t change things. I’ve made that mistake before.””
In addition, Jones enjoyed having home field advantage.
“”These past three [home] games couldn’t have been any better,”” Jones said. “”It was a one o’clock on a Sunday with good weather, and our fans were here.””
UCSD will now travel to Virginia Beach, Va., for the NCAA Division II Final Four. Their semifinal opponent will be No. 7 Franklin Pierce College on Dec. 4.
