No. 8 UCSD Women Take Sixth Straight at SFSU

October 8, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO - Eighth-ranked University of California San Diego scored a goal in each half to beat San Francisco State University, 2-0, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women's soccer action Friday afternoon at Cox Stadium.

A sixth consecutive victory, the last three now via shutout, improved UC San Diego to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the CCAA. The Tritons, along with Cal State LA (5-0), which plays later Friday, are the only teams left that are perfect in the conference table. SF State, winless in its last five, dropped to 5-4-3 overall and 2-3-2 in league play.

The No. 8 Tritons wasted little time finding the opener, getting a goal in the eighth minute by their No. 8, Reilly. Fourth-year senior midfielder Jamie Benedetto attempted to play a bouncing through ball from the top of the penalty area. Junior SFSU goalkeeper Christina Holguin came out and misplayed it, leaving Reilly with an easy empty-net goal, her fifth of the campaign.

UCSD missed a couple of chances to double its advantage over the remainder of the first half, as Benedetto was denied by a defender in the 28th minute, and senior Kristen Sampietro came off the bench to shoot just high from the right diagonal after a left-sided cross by Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) over the top.

In the 57th minute, the Tritons had great build-up in their efforts to get a second. From her position on the left wing, senior co-captain Kiera Bocchino slotted Reilly into the box, who cut the ball nicely back toward the edge of the area for her strike partner, O'Laughlin, but her right-footed attempt sailed over the crossbar.

At 70:06, UCSD finally had its insurance score. Sophomore reserve winger Summer Bales produced a perfect cross from the deep left, and Reilly only had to nudge it home with her head from close range at the back post. Unfortunately for Reilly, Bales and the Tritons, however, it was later ruled an own goal via deflection.

UCSD almost put in a third. With under eight minutes to go, Bocchino latched onto Sampietro's right-sided cross but went high with her shot.

Senior Itzel Gonzalez did not have to make a save for her seventh shutout this season, including three straight now. The three-person line ahead of her consists of senior co-captain Meghan Berry (Austin, Texas/San Diego Miramar College/Mt. Carmel HS) and junior outside backs Makenzie Brito and Aimee Ellis, as well as redshirt freshman holding midfielder Natalie Saddic (San Diego/UC Davis/Torrey Pines HS) right in front of them. Holguin had five stops for the Gators.

"It was not one of our better displays, but we'll take the win, especially on the road," said UC San Diego head coach Brian McManus. "In the first half, we were not very good, but we got the goal. It seemed like we created a lot of shots, but not a lot of clear shots. I thought some of the bench players came on and helped us in the second half. We need that, so it was pleasing."

UC San Diego remains in the Bay Area and heads south to Seaside for a Sunday matchup against Cal State Monterey Bay. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m.

Triton Notes: UCSD is an unbeaten 7-0-4 over its last 11 against SFSU ... The Tritons have scored two or more goals in seven successive games, with a high for their NCAA Division II era of eight such efforts in a row coming in the very first year back in 2000 ... Jamie Benedetto's assist on the first goal was her first this season ... Junior Elisa Martinez (El Cajon/Francis Parker School) came on late in the first half, having missed the previous four contests while in Mexico City with the Mexico U-20 national team.

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