CHICO, Calif. - UC San Diego put it all together to post a comprehensive 4-0 triumph over in-form archrival Chico State in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's soccer action at University Soccer Stadium on Friday night.

The result clinched a second straight CCAA Tournament berth for the record eight-time-champion Tritons.

"Overall, the conference results went our way today," said UCSD head coach Brian McManus, who has advanced the seven-time-national-champion Tritons into the postseason remarkably for the 28th time in his 29 seasons in charge. "We're in the CCAA Tournament, and now just have to wait for the seeding. I feel like we're playing good soccer now, and don't really care who we get matched up with."

A second successive win pushed UCSD to 11-5-1 overall and 7-4-1 in the CCAA. Chico State, coming off of a pair of big road victories last weekend, dropped to 9-4-2 overall and 5-3-1 in league play. The Wildcats were 5-0-1 at home heading in.

A pair of Chula Vista products and former teammates at Hilltop High School both got on the scoresheet. Maxia Espino notched the opener in the 38th minute. Sophomore Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) sailed a corner kick into the penalty area. Espino's initial header was saved by Chico State goalkeeper Mackenzie Boulton, but the redshirt sophomore managed to put away the rebound for her second on the year and first career game-winner.

"It took us the first 10-12 minutes to get our legs going, but once we did, we started getting hold of the ball, moving it, and getting (Chico State) chasing," added McManus. "That allowed us to create a lot of chances, and we really dominated the rest of the first half."

True freshman Mary Reilly, a fellow Hilltop graduate, later produced her league-leading ninth at the 59:57 mark, after taking a McNutt pass, for a 3-0 advantage.

UCSD's second goal was a masterclass constructed on the training ground. The Tritons took the second-half kickoff and played it back. Elisa Martinez (El Cajon/Univ. of Sioux Falls/Francis Parker School) stepped over the ball and junior center back Meghan Berry (San Diego Miramar College/Mt. Carmel HS) launched a right-footed kick toward the left corner. The only thing the Wildcat defender could do was head it backward, as UCSD expertly procured another corner kick. McNutt then sent that kick toward the front of goal, where junior Jamie Benedetto was perfectly stationed for a one-timer into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. It was her first tally in just over two years, since Oct. 20, 2013.

Megumi Barber (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) put the finishing touches in the 77th minute, nabbing the third of her young career, in spectacular fashion at that. Following a turnover near midfield, the freshman striker spied Boulton off her line and lofted a magnificent 35-yarder that found the top netting to punctuate matters.

McNutt's two assists increased her team-best total to seven, now second in the league behind only Chico State's Pooja Patel, a fellow sophomore and the reigning CCAA Player of the Week who the Tritons allowed just two shots on the night.

Kelcie Brodsky finished with six saves for UCSD, keeping her seventh individual shutout of the year and 26th for her career. It was a fourth clean sheet over UCSD's last five contests. Boulton had seven stops.

"The bench players came on and didn't just maintain the status quo, but even stepped the tempo up a bit," concluded McManus. "I thought we managed the game well, and our reserves are starting to realize that they're not just there to play a few minutes, but to push the tempo and provide us an advantage. Maxia's (Espino) goal was a big one. Jordyn (McNutt) served it in, Maxia headed it down, their keeper punched it, and Maxia just kept working, followed the play, and put it in."

UCSD has now gone an unbeaten 4-0-3 over the past seven regular-season matchups between the sides. The last three meetings in Chico had resulted in ties, including successive draws there the previous two years in 2013 (2-2) and 2014 (2014).

The Tritons were playing without regular starters Brie Diaz, Aimee Ellis and Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS) for a second straight contest this week. The sophomore trio didn't even make the trip due to injuries.

UCSD had in fact returned late Sunday night from another trip to Northern California, to Humboldt State and Sonoma State, and contested a home match Wednesday night, blanking Cal State San Marcos, 2-0, while Chico State was idle.

The Tritons have virtually duplicated a late-season surge from a year ago. They went 5-0-1 over their last six league matches in 2014, surrendering just a single goal, to return to the CCAA Tournament following a one-year absence. This campaign, UCSD rounded out the CCAA slate at 4-1, again with just a lone goal conceded in that span. Not only did the Tritons qualify for the conference tourney, but they may well have earned themselves an extra home match, with first-round tilts at campus sites taking place on Tuesday, Nov. 3. They will wait out the remaining games around the league to see what seed they wind up with. UCSD also on Friday night, strengthened its resume for the NCAA selection committee. It was ranked seventh in Wednesday's first official regional poll, with the top six making the NCAA Championship field.

Friday marked UCSD's most lopsided road victory over Chico State.

UCSD concludes its regular-season schedule with a non-conference affair against area foe and new league rival Cal State San Marcos on Senior Night next Friday, Oct 30. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is slated for 7 p.m. Admission is free.

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