LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC San Diego scored five unanswered after surrendering an early goal to cruise to a much-needed 5-1 defeat of Cal State East Bay in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s soccer match at Triton Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

UCSD evened its overall record to 5-5-2 overall, and is now 2-3-1 in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay fell to 5-6-2 overall and 2-4 in league play. The Tritons thus vaulted over the Pioneers and into sole possession of eighth place in the 12-team CCAA.

The Tritons now lead the all-time series, 7-1, since East Bay joined the CCAA in 2009. UCSD is a perfect 4-0 at home against the Pioneers, outscoring them 13-2, including another 5-1 triumph in the previous meeting there in 2011.

The Tritons had five different goal-scorers on the day, having previously had four players find the back of the net in a 4-2 win at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sept. 19.

Redshirt sophomore forward Kiera Bocchino knocked in a rebound in the 12th minute for the equalizer after Cassie Callahan (Coronado/Coronado HS) had found the crossbar with a header. Bocchino’s second goal of 2014 capped a furious segment that saw Aimee Ellis bang her attempt from distance off the bar and Kylie Hill also manage a shot ahead of Callahan’s, all within a span of 17 seconds.

In the 19th minute, senior co-captain Izzy Pozurama tucked home another rebound after freshman teammate Jordyn McNutt’s (San Diego/University HS) effort had been deflected. It was Pozurama’s third goal and McNutt’s team-best sixth assist.

Within two minutes, it was 3-1, as Hill claimed a loose ball in the Pioneer penalty area and struck a right-footed shot from the left side of the box low into the right corner. It was her second goal in as many games.

UCSD put matters out of reach in the second half. Sophomore left back Kristen Sampietro took a short pass from Hill, dribbled through a couple of defenders and put a right-footed effort high into the right corner from the left diagonal at 46:55.

Freshman Katie O’Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) capped the scoring in the 56th, nodding home a right-sided Bocchino cross into the left corner. She and Callahan both went up for the same ball with either apt to score, but O’Laughlin got to it first and seemingly knocked it in with the back of her head.

Kelcie Brodsky made five saves in goal for UCSD. Her best came in the 35th, when the junior dove to her right to tip Rachel Armstrong’s hard shot from distance away to a corner kick. Pioneer starter Selena Braun had three stops over 73:32 before giving way to Lia Unterholzner, who added one save.

UCSD outshot CSUEB, 21-13, with Callahan providing a team-high four.

Corryn Barney of East Bay led all players with six shots, and also got her side on the board at the 10:47 mark, when she met Sara Yamasaki’s right-sided cross at the near post. Just 37 seconds later, it was 1-1, and the Tritons surged from there.

UCSD now heads into a season-long four-match road stretch, beginning Friday, Oct. 17, at Cal State Monterey Bay. The Otters (6-5, 3-3 CCAA) sit just ahead of the Tritons in the league standings with nine points.

#TritonsRising

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