Tritons end tight game against Otters at a 1-1 stalemate, shut out Gators with pair of last-minute goals.
The Triton women’s soccer team started their weekend off with a disappointing 1–1 tie against CSU Monterey Bay on Friday but broke through on Sunday with a 2–0 victory in the final minutes of play against San Francisco State. After Sunday’s play, UCSD stands at fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and improved their record to 8–4–1 overall and 4–3–1 in league play.
GAME ONE
Despite a massive offensive effort, UCSD settled for a 1–1 tie after two 10-minute overtime periods against CSU Monterey Bay. Sophomore forward Katie O’Laughlin posted the first goal on the scoreboard in the 51st minute, dribbling up the right flank then touching a lucky shot past an unprepared Monterey Bay keeper into the lower left corner of the net.
Sophomore midfielder Jordyn McNutt nearly doubled the Tritons’ advantage in the 59th minute, but her effort shot back off the crossbar. Seconds later Otter keeper Victoria Whyte denied the UCSD offense once again, fully extending to smack McNutt’s free kick away from the goal.
The Otter offense finally struck gold in the last minutes of the game. Senior forward/midfielder Regan Porteous fired a right-footed shot into the bottom of the goal to equalize in the 84th minute, sending the two teams into overtime. Despite strong efforts from junior midfielder/forward Kiera Bocchino in the 92nd and sophomore midfielder Brie Diaz in the 95th, the Tritons were unable to take the lead back and settled for the stalemate.
UCSD’s record shifted to 7–4–1 overall and 3–3–1 in the conference, while Cal State Monterey Bay moved to 3–8–1 overall and 0–5–1 in the conference.
GAME TWO
Triton freshmen forward Mary Reilly and midfielder Danielle Nunn took center stage against San Francisco State on Sunday with a pair of goals in the last 13 minutes of play, pushing UCSD to a huge 2–0 victory. Reilly netted the game-winning goal at 77:52, marking her eighth of the season and pushing her to the top of the CCAA in goals scored. Nunn hit the target for her first collegiate goal in the 87th off a cross from the right from O’Laughlin.
“We started off very strong[ly], and we did lose a little energy at the end of the first period, Reilly said. “Luckily we found the back of the net. We just want to continue the winning legacy that [the former players] left behind.”
Despite San Francisco State’s 18–8 advantage in shots taken, senior Triton keeper Kelcie Brodsky held the Gator offense at bay; she registered her fourth shutout of the season with eight saves in the net. Freshman forward Isabella Nazario threatened to break onto the scoreboard for the gators a half an hour into the matchup, but Brodsky made a spectacular dive to deny the shot and hold the teams even at 0–0. She came through again in the 75th minute, leaping to snag a high shot by junior midfielder Vanessa Penuna after Penuna broke through the Triton defense.
“We stole it,” Head Coach Brian McManus said. “It wasn’t one of their best performances, but [we have to] credit them — they got two very very good goals.”
The UCSD women remain unbeaten at 6–0–4 in their last 10 matchups against San Francisco State. Their record improved to 8–4–1 overall and 4–3–1 in the CCAA and are currently sitting in fourth in the conference.
The team will be back on the road in a pair of tough matchups against Humboldt State this Friday and CCAA leader Sonoma State on Sunday.
