With nearly 1,000 people in attendance, the UCSD women’s soccer team defeated UC Davis 5-1 to earn a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Championship game against Cal Poly Pomona.
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A strong second half by the Tritons capped off an impressive victory. Senior forward Erika Alfredson scored three goals and assisted on another one to lead the Tritons. Her first goal occurred at the 35th minute when she got hold of a loose ball on a corner kick and drilled it past Davis goalkeeper Christine Ogden. The next score came from UC Davis’ Kara Hayllar, who found the right post in the 38th minute for the Aggie goal. It was all Tritons from then on.
“”It was a great win,”” said Triton freshman goalkeeper Jaime Lautenschleger. “”The first half, we weren’t completely connecting, but at halftime we just told each other to relax and play our game. We knew chances were going to come, and in the second half they did.””
Elizabeth Hughes started off the second-half onslaught with a goal on an assist by Megan Mendoza at the 50th minute to give the Tritons a 2-1 advantage. In a span of nine minutes, the UCSD team knocked off three more goals to secure the victory.
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Kristin Jones added a goal in the 63rd minute on a double-assist from Alfredson and Julia Cuder. Alredson scored off another corner kick by Cuder in the 64th minute to increase the margin to 4-1. The barrage ended with Alfredson scoring her third goal of the night in the 71st minute off a feed from Mendoza.
“”It was an unbelievable win,”” said Triton sophomore goalie Kami Poma. “”We came alive in the second half and totally connected on the field.””
Next up for the UCSD women’s soccer team is the CCAA Championship finals against Cal Poly Pomona. The last two meetings between these teams turned out to be classics, the first being a victory for UCSD at Pomona in an overtime game and the last being a win at Triton Soccer Stadium for Pomona in another overtime thriller.
With the stakes a bit higher in this next confrontation, the UCSD women’s soccer team realizes that a victory here will secure the Tritons a spot in the Regionals and possibly home-field advantage.
“”We know that we will probably face Pomona again in the Regionals,”” Poma said, “”but a win Sunday will help our chances in Regionals. Without looking too far ahead, we are taking it a game at a time and concentrating on them in the championships.””
When asked if the coaching staff or players are worried about any of the star players on Pomona’s squad, such as Lisa Hermen, Poma said, “”They should be looking out for our players. I feel we have the better team to get us to Regionals.””
Judging from the game on Friday, it is hard to disagree.
To add to the high standards set by the UCSD women’s soccer team, Cuder has been named the 2001 CCAA Women’s Soccer Most Valuable Player of the Year, and UCSD coach Brian McManus was named CCAA Coach of the Year.
Cuder, a senior from Corona, Calif., is arguably the reason the Tritons are one of the nation’s top teams. Her defensive presence has allowed only eight goals in 18 matches this year.
“”She is a role-model on the team,”” Poma said. “”It’s like having a coach on the field; I have learned so much from playing with her back in high school and now in college. She was one of the reasons I came to this school, so I could again be on the same team with her and compete against the top of Division II.””
“”Julia is great,”” Lautenschleger added. “”We don’t get discouraged when the goal is in our territory because Julia is back there. Having someone who can clear the ball like Julia is awesome; she will be missed after this season.””
McManus has led UCSD to its second-straight CCAA South Division title and has the Tritons in position to defend their CCAA Championship.
The Tritons are at an astounding 16-2 this season and ranked sixth in Division II. Last year, McManus led the Tritons to their sixth NCAA Championship, including their first crown as a Division II squad.
