No. 8 UCSD Women Play at CSUSM on Saturday
THE SCHEDULE
Match 15
at Cal State San Marcos (7-6, 5-4 CCAA)
Saturday, Oct. 21 • 2 p.m.
The Cage • San Marcos
Live Video • Live Stats • Tickets
TRITONS ROUND OUT NON-LEAGUE PLAY AT CITY RIVAL CSUSM
The eighth-ranked University of California San Diego women's soccer program has a second straight single-match week on tap, playing its final non-conference match of the 2017 season at California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and city rival Cal State San Marcos (7-6, 5-4 CCAA) on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff at The Cage is set for 2 p.m. UC San Diego (12-2, 9-0 CCAA) has clinched a 17th CCAA Tournament berth in 18 seasons as a league member, and indeed a first-round bye on Tuesday, Oct. 31, as well. The two-time reigning and record 10-time champion Tritons will thus advance straight into the semifinal round on Friday, Nov. 3, at a time to be determined UCSD hosts the men's and women's semifinals and finals. The Tritons are even all but assured of a second straight CCAA regular-season title. UCSD's match at Sonoma State last Sunday, Oct. 15, which was postponed due to wildfires, will not be made up.
LIVE COVERAGE
Saturday's match at Cal State San Marcos will feature a live video stream and live stats, both free of charge. Seth Smith (@Cougar_Voice) has the call. Fans can access live coverage from the Schedule/Results page, or by clicking on the links above. Starting lineups, live in-game updates and other news and notes can be found by following Triton Soccer all season long on the UCSD Athletics Twitter handle (@UCSDtritons). Finally, check out the CCAA live scoreboard here to keep up on results around the league.
REGIONAL POLL
Wednesday marked the unveiling of the first official NCAA regional polls, with UCSD first ahead of Sonoma State, undefeated defending national champion Western Washington, Chico State, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State LA, Stanislaus State and Concordia (OR). The top six teams in the final edition of those rankings, qualify for the NCAA Championship. The second release is set for next Wednesday, Oct. 25. The 48-team NCAA field will be unveiled on Monday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. PT, live on NCAA.com. Once again this year, there are automatic qualifiers for all three West Region conferences in the CCAA, Great Northwest Athletic Conference and Pacific West Conference. The CCAA's automatic qualifier will be the tournament champion.
UCSD IN THE UNITED SOCCER COACHES POLL
• Oct. 17: 8 (2nd in West)
• Oct. 10: 8 (2nd in West)
• Oct. 3: 7 (2nd in West)
• Sept. 26: 7 (2nd in West)
• Sept. 19: 10 (2nd West)
• Sept. 12: 19 (3rd in West)
• Sept. 5: 9 (2nd in West)
• Preseason: 10
A LOOK BACK AT LAST WEEK
UCSD dodged a bullet to extend its record CCAA win streak to 23 games with a 2-1 double-overtime triumph at Humboldt State last Friday afternoon. The Tritons surrendered a goal at 15:11 to see their shutout streak snapped at five-plus games and 515:36 in all, marking just the second time they've trailed over this 23-game stretch. The lead for the host Jacks lasted less than seven minutes, however, as Katie O'Laughlin was brought down at the edge of the box and Natalie Saddic coolly converted the ensuing penalty kick for 1-1. That's how it would stay until 106:20, as with just 3:40 left before UCSD would have to settle for a draw, Mary Reilly headed Elisa Martinez's left-sided corner kick from the near post across the goal mouth and in for the decider. The Tritons dominated on the scoresheet with a season-high 26 shots to nine by Humboldt State, including a 19-3 bulge after the halftime interval.
CAL STATE SAN MARCOS CONNECTIONS
Seventh-year UC San Diego assistant/goalkeepers coach Trent Painter is a 2011 graduate of Cal State San Marcos and former Cougar goalie ... Triton freshman Alexis Kirson and Cougar freshman Chloe Kirson are twin sisters from Las Vegas, Nev. ... Alexis has appeared in four games, and Chloe none.
CCAA DOMINATION
UCSD has won 23 consecutive CCAA regular-season matches and 29 straight against league opposition, since a 1-0 loss at Sonoma State on Oct. 18, 2015. The Tritons have held a 71-7 scoring advantage and trailed in only two of those contests, for a grand total of 54:21, after early goals by hosts Cal Poly Pomona in the 2016 regular-season finale and Humboldt State last Friday, Oct. 13. At CPP, UCSD overturned that 1-0 halftime deficit thanks to goals by Mary Reilly and Katie O'Laughlin, to complete its perfect ledger. Indeed last season, for the first time in the storied 17-year CCAA history of the UC San Diego women's soccer program, the Tritons completed their league slate unbeaten and untied, at a perfect 12-0. It marked the first such effort by a CCAA squad since Sonoma State went 14-0 in 1998. UCSD went on to win both of its CCAA Tournament games, 2-0 and 1-0, to give it a 14-0 mark against CCAA foes, outscoring them 35-2 during the regular season and 38-2 overall. In Arcata last week, Natalie Saddic equalized within seven minutes midway through the first half, and Reilly headed in an Elisa Martinez corner kick just 3:40 from the end of the second and final overtime, to extend the streak.
COUNTDOWN TO 500
Legendary UC San Diego head coach Brian McManus needs four more wins to give him 500 for his outstanding 31-year tenure in charge of the Tritons. Only three others in the history of NCAA women's soccer have reached the milestone, in North Carolina's Anson Dorrance (809), UConn's Len Tsantiris (563) and William Smith's Aliceann Wilber (536), with those reflected totals heading into the 2017 season.
#DYNAMICDUO
UCSD senior Katie O'Laughlin and junior Mary Reilly, two local products, make up arguably the top forward tandem in the West Region, and one of the best in all of the NCAA Division II. They have combined for 63 career goals, 33 and 30, respectively, including exactly 50 in 2015 and 2016, each reaching double figures in both years. In 2016, O'Laughlin had a region-best 16 goals and 41 points, with nine assists, while Reilly produced 13 goals and nine assists of her own. They were 1-2 in the West in goals and thus also 1-2 on the CCAA chart for the second year in a row, this time with spots flipped. Reilly hit for 11 and O'Laughlin for 10 in 2015. They both started their 2017 accounts over the opening weekend, with O'Laughlin finding the target once in both games and Reilly providing the first in a 2-1 victory over Central Washington. O'Laughlin added a 58th-minute tally in that match that was the 30th of her career and proved to be her 10th game-winner. The duo is again 1-2 on the team chart at six for Reilly and five for O'Laughlin. Reilly's team-best sixth was her milestone 30th as the double-overtime winner at Humboldt State on Oct. 13. Reilly (62) and O'Laughlin (52) are again 1-2 in the CCAA in shots.
ANGELICA RAMOS NAMED CCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
On Oct. 10, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Angelica Ramos became the second Triton to earn CCAA Player of the Week distinction for 2017. She produced four saves in each of two 1-0 victories, at home against CSUSM and SF State. Ramos thus stretched her individual shutout streaks to five-plus games and 500:25 of action, and has nine clean sheets on the season. Her 0.564 goals-against average ranks third in the CCAA, fourth in the West Region and 30th in Division II.
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
Through this current nine-game win streak, UCSD has surrendered two scores, the first an own goal at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 22. Goalkeeper Angelica Ramos has kept nine individual clean sheets, including five straight from Sept. 24-Oct. 6 and seven over these last nine games. The three-person back line consists of, from right to left, seniors Aimee Ellis and Brie Diaz, and true freshman Delaney Whittet, the latter since the injury loss of fourth-year senior and team tri-captain Makenzie Brito on Sept. 17. Right in front of them are redshirt sophomore holding central midfielder Natalie Saddic. The Tritons' 0.564 team goals-against average ranks third in the CCAA, fourth in the West Region and 28th in Division II.
TRITON DEBUTS
Eight Tritons made their first appearance during the first weekend, including redshirt sophomore goalie Angelica Ramos, redshirt freshman Amanda Erickson, and true freshmen Michelle Baddour, Caitlin McCarthy, Abby Ross, Maddy Samilo, Delaney Whittet and Natalie Widmer. Samilo needed just 7:02 after coming on late in the first half of the season opener, to notch her first collegiate goal, with McCarthy assisting. Though Widmer was the only newcomer to start that match, the 3-0 shutout of city rival Point Loma ended with six true freshmen on the pitch. McCarthy's first college goal was the winner in another 3-0 decision over Concordia Irvine on Sept. 5. A seventh true freshman, forward Alexis Kirson out of Las Vegas, Nev., earned her college debut against Chico State on Sept. 15.
TRITON NOTES
UC San Diego is the unanimous favorite to repeat as champion of the CCAA, as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches for the 2017 preseason poll, garnering 144 points due largely to 12 first-place nods ... Katie O'Laughlinearned the season's first CCAA Player of the Week award for the second straight year, which marked her fourth career weekly recognition from the league office ... UCSD is 16-1-1 in season openers in the NCAA Division II era, suffering its only such defeat in 2014 at Seattle Pacific ... UCSD is 10-8 in CCAA openers, now with two straight wins after a 4-0 romp at Cal State San Marcos last season and 3-0 home victory over Chico State this year ... When UCSD fell 4-0 at 2016 national quarterfinalist Colorado Mines on Sept. 8, it marked its first loss by more than one goal since a 2-0 defeat at Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 2, 2014 ... The Tritons have four 3-0 victories in 2017 and five 1-0 triumphs, including four straight between Sept. 29-Oct. 6 ... They are 8-1 in one-goal games, and have been on the right side of seven in a row, including each of the last five contests ... For the fifth straight year and sixth in the last seven, UCSD recently earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award with a 3.03 combined GPA for 2016-17.
STRONG SCHEDULE
The CCAA grind is tough enough, but UCSD head coach Brian McManus has given his side the best possible chance of gaining another NCAA Championship berth in 2017. Of the five non-conference opponents the Tritons faced prior to league competition, Mines and Regis were picked to finish 1-2 in the RMAC, Concordia and Point Loma 3-4 in the PacWest, and Central Washington second in the GNAC.
ROSTER NOTES
UCSD's 29-player 2017 roster has seven seniors in fourth-year team members Makenzie Brito, Aimee Ellis, Jordyn McNutt, Katie O'Laughlin and Taylor Ramos, alongside third-year transfers Brie Diaz and Elisa Martinez ... Brito, McNutt and O'Laughlin are 2017 team tri-captains, and all three are first-time captains ... Eleven newcomers have joined the program, including 10 true freshmen ... Twelve players are from San Diego, in Michelle Baddour (San Diego/University City HS), Megumi Barber (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS), Sydney Davey (La Jolla/La Jolla HS), Georgina Herrera (San Ysidro/San Diego Mesa College/San Ysidro HS), Elisa Martinez (El Cajon/University of Sioux Falls/Francis Parker School), Caitlin McCarthy (Carlsbad/Carlsbad HS), Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS), Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School), Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS), Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS), Natalie Saddic (San Diego/UC Davis/Torrey Pines HS) and Maddy Samilo (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS) ... Kristin Jones (Oceanside HS), a two-time national champion and two-time All-American as one of the greatest players to ever come through the storied UCSD women's soccer program, begins her third year as associate head coach and her 18th straight year as a Triton player or coach, having joined Brian McManus' staff immediately upon exhausting her eligibility.
CCAA TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO LA JOLLA
UC San Diego is the proud host of the 2017 CCAA Tournament semifinals and finals, for the first time since 2008 and fourth in all. Two women's and two men's semifinals will be contested at Triton Soccer Stadium on Friday, Nov. 3, with the two finals set for Sunday, Nov. 5. First-round matchups will take place on the campuses of the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds on Tuesday, Oct. 31. In all three previous instances that UCSD has served as the host, the Triton women have won the event, in 2001, 2006 and 2008. The women's champion will once again earn the CCAA's automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.
CCAA FORMAT UNCHANGED
For the fourth year in a row, the CCAA slate consists of a single round robin, with all teams meeting once for 12 matches total, and the top six sides (based on most points; three points for a league win, one for a tie) in the final regular-season standings qualifying for the 2017 CCAA Tournament. Cal State San Marcos, a new addition in 2015, is eligible for the first time.
2017 SEASON OUTLOOK
Brian McManus saw his entire 2016 starting 11 recognized in some fashion with postseason CCAA athletic honors, including seven of 11 first-teamers, with an incredible seven student-athletes gaining All-America consideration by one or both award entities. Seven of those 11 return, led by Division II Conference Commissioners Association West Region Player of the Year and CCAA Offensive Player of the Year Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School), a senior All-American whose 16 goals and 41 points were best in the West. Further unfortunate for Triton opponents, is that her lethal strike partner and fellow San Diego product Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS) is also back. Reilly, a junior, added 35 points from 13 goals and nine assists, comfortably leading the CCAA in shots taken for a second successive season. The other two All-CCAA First Team returners are winger Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) and right back Makenzie Brito, both seniors. Senior left back Aimee Ellis, redshirt sophomore holding central midfielder Natalie Saddic (San Diego/UC Davis/Torrey Pines HS) and senior central midfielder Elisa Martinez (El Cajon/University of Sioux Falls/Francis Parker School) are the remaining starters back. They are joined by the likes of Brie Diaz and fellow senior Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS), as well as the junior duo of Summer Bales and Megumi Barber (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS).
LAST SEASON
UCSD went 19-3 overall and a perfect 12-0 in the CCAA a year ago. A 16-game win streak was snapped in the West Region final by eventual national champion Western Washington, 2-1 in overtime in Golden, Colo. The Tritons won the CCAA Tournament for a second straight and record 10th time, as the top seed.
HEAD COACH BRIAN McMANUS
Brian McManus is in his 31st season in charge of the UC San Diego women's soccer program. With a career record of 496-90-51, he has achieved the most wins in NCAA Division II women's soccer history, and fourth-most for all divisions. McManus' winning percentage of .818 heading into 2017 ranks among the top 12 in college women's soccer annals, both overall (No. 11) and Division II only (No. 5). The six-time and reigning CCAA Coach of the Year is also third in win percentage among active Division II coaches. McManus has directed UCSD to seven national titles and a record nine CCAA crowns and 10 tournament banners (first regular-season one in 2016), with the Tritons advancing to the national semifinals a remarkable 15 times in his 30 years. Under his guidance, UCSD has qualified for the NCAA Championship all 13 seasons during the Division III days, and all but three (2004, 2013-14) of 17 years since the move up to Division II. McManus' Tritons have missed the CCAA Tournament just once in 2013, having earned 13 straight berths after joining the conference.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Cal State San Marcos (7-6, 5-4 CCAA) was picked to tie for eighth in the CCAA preseason poll, and is eligible for the conference tournament for the first time after joining for the 2015 campaign. The Cougars are 4-2 at home and are coming off a 1-0 victory at Humboldt State last Sunday, which put them in position for a CCAA Tournament berth. Senior forward Kayla Anderson, who like Triton freshman Alexis Kirson is a Las Vegas native and Green Valley High School graduate, tallied the lone goal at 5:27. Yesenia Betancourt, a freshman out of Carlsbad (Carlsbad HS) who had made her first collegiate start at UCSD on Oct. 4 due to the red-card suspension of sophomore goalie Bailey Cockrill, registered seven saves and her first career shutout. Bobby Renneisen is in his fourth season in charge of the Cougars.
SERIES HISTORY
UCSD leads the all-time series, 4-0-1, with a 1-0 home decision in this season's CCAA matchup back on Oct. 4, the lone goal coming at 3:43 as Katie O'Laughlin headed home Summer Bales' corner kick at the back post. That followed a 4-0 thrashing in San Marcos a year ago via four different goal-scorers in both teams' CCAA opener. The Tritons produced a pair of 2-0 shutout victories in La Jolla in October of 2015, one in conference play and the latter in non-conference. The sides previously played to a scoreless draw in La Jolla on Sept. 3, 2008. In the Tritons' 2-0 victory over the Cougars in their first CCAA meeting on Oct. 21, 2015, Elisa Martinez and O'Laughlin tallied the first-half goals. O'Laughlin and Taylor Ramos then provided the second-half strikes nine days later. O'Laughlin now has four career goals against the Cougars, scoring in all four games.
GEAR UP
For the latest in Triton athletic gear, make sure to visit ucsdtritonsgear.com. Run by UCSD Athletics' online partner Advanced-Online, the site provides an on-demand option for Triton athletic apparel and merchandise. Fans have access to over 600 products that can be processed and shipped within 24 hours.
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UCSD home athletic events, and much more!
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UP NEXT
The Tritons will wrap up the regular season up in the Bay Area next week, looking to finish off a second straight perfect CCAA slate. UCSD is at Cal State East Bay on Thursday, Oct. 26, and then at Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, Oct. 28
#AllForOne
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