In its last three games, the women’s soccer team has not allowed a single goal from its opponents. The Tritons have netted seven goals over that period and remain a perfect 4-0 in October. (Karen Ling/Guardian File)
WOMEN’S SOCCER — Head coach Brian McManus said his team has now entered the most difficult part of the season.
With five of their last seven games on the road, the Tritons are going to make their playoff push away from the comfort of RIMAC Field.
To make matters even more difficult, this will be the first extended road experience for the freshmen. While they now have the experience of on-field competition, seven players, including some of those freshmen, will have to take quizzes on the road. McManus said that while this can be distracting, his players can handle it.
“There are no dummies at UCSD,” he said. “Our athletes do well and get good GPAs. Other schools can’t do it. These bright kids work to our advantage on the field.”
If the team was distracted, it didn’t show on Oct. 10 at Cal State Stanislaus. The Tritons and Warriors battled for 86 minutes before senior midfielder Laura Borenstein broke through in the scoreless game.
Junior midfielder Alexia Zatarain placed the UCSD corner kick into the box where freshman forward Sarah McTigue one-timed it to Borenstein for what would be the game-winning goal.
UCSD had the overall edge in the match on the offensive with 15 shots to Cal State Stanislaus’ nine. Eleven of the Triton shots came in the second half, and senior goalkeeper Jessica McGovern tallied four saves while earning her fifth shutout of the season.
The win brings the Tritons’ overall record to 10-2-1 and their conference record to 7-2-0. They again own sole possession of first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association after Cal State San Bernardino ended its game in a tie.
Chico State was next up for the Tritons on Oct. 12, and the Tritons continued their winning ways with a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats. Of the two teams, UCSD has dominated the head-to-head matchup, winning seven of the last 10 face-offs with the Wildcats.
Three different Tritons scored, helping UCSD hold its lead over the Wildcats. Senior forward Natasha Belak-Berger notched her team-high ninth goal of the season with junior midfielder Alexia Zatarain and freshman forward Alexa-Rae Navarro also adding scores for the Tritons.
With only five games remaining, UCSD will have to do what it has already done well this season: win on the road.
The Tritons’ first opportunity will come against Cal State Dominguez Hills, as UCSD will finish its roadtrip against the Toros.
