CARSON, Calif. - A six-goal second-half flurry went the way of the UC San Diego women’s soccer team in a 4-2 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills at Toro Stadium on Friday night.

It was a rare non-conference meeting between the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rivals, with the Tritons moving to 3-2 on the year and the Toros now 0-5-1.

Junior goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky was called on for UCSD just 1:21 into the match, saving Johana Rosas’ attempt. Triton senior Izzy Pozurama provided her team’s first shot, that one denied by the Toros’ Michelle Mendez in the 10th minute.

Pozurama had three of UCSD’s five shots over the first 45 minutes, all of them saved by Mendez, to just two by the home side.

The action picked up significantly after the second-half whistle. Following over 519 minutes of scoreless soccer, Cal State Dominguez Hills was finally able to break through with its first goal of 2014 at 49:34 through a long-distance strike by Katelyn Fregosi.

That goal seemed to wake the Tritons up, however, and in 12 minutes, the momentum had flipped in the form of a 2-1 edge for UCSD. Kristen Sampietro’s first collegiate goal leveled matters in the 57th, the sophomore defender shooting over Mendez and into the back of the net from 18 yards off of a rebound.

Within five minutes, a team-leading third goal on the year by freshman winger Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) gave UCSD the lead. Senior Kylie Hill provided the bouncing cross from the left that McNutt headed home. It was Hill’s first helper of 2014.

“After going a goal down at Dominguez, it would have been easy to just fold up, but we came right back,” said UCSD head coach Brian McManus. “It was nice to see that, because we dominated the first half and had the better chances, but just couldn’t finish.”

At 71:31, the Tritons made it 3-1 as Cassie Callahan (Coronado/Coronado HS) headed in Kiera Bocchino’s left-sided cross for her second of the season. The senior All-American midfielder’s 21st career goal was at least her 11th via header.

Two minutes later, Cal State Dominguez Hills got back to within a single score as Rosas struck a right-footed effort from just outside the penalty box off the left post and into the lower left corner.

Bocchino then finally iced it for the Tritons in the 85th minute with a header goal of her own from a right-sided cross by freshman Aimee Ellis. Bocchino’s score was her first of the season, while Ellis’ assist marked her first collegiate point.

“In the second half we started attacking in the box and got some great crosses,” added McManus. “The first goal was a little lucky but the last three were quality.

“Even though it wasn’t a CCAA game, it had the same intensity. When you’re on the field, you don’t think about things like that. It’s a regular-season game. You’ve got to win. Simple as that.”

Brodsky finished with three saves for UCSD. Mendez made six stops for CSUDH. The Tritons outshot the Toros, 16-9. Pozurama had a match-high five shot attempts, with all five of them on goal.

Up next for UCSD is a second successive non-conference date with a CCAA foe, at home against Cal State L.A. on Monday night, Sept. 22. Kickoff at Triton Soccer Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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