UCSD Women Blank Humboldt State on Road, 1-0

October 16, 2015

ARCATA, Calif. - The UC San Diego women's soccer team dominated the action and found a single first-half goal in securing a critical 1-0 win over Humboldt State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match Friday at College Creek Field.

With a second successive shutout victory, UCSD improved to 9-4-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the CCAA. The result temporarily pushed the Tritons up into a tie for first in the standings with No. 11 Sonoma State, having played the first of five games around the league. The Seawolves later procured a 4-0 home decision over Cal State San Marcos, and the Tritons ended the day with a share of second place. HSU fell to 7-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in league play.

UCSD held a 6-0 advantage in shots taken when it finally struck for the only goal of the afternoon. Kiera Bocchino tallied her second on the year to give the Tritons the early edge in the 21st minute. Fellow junior co-captain Meghan Berry lifted a free kick that Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) headed onto the crossbar, with Bocchino in the right place at the right time to nod home the rebound. O'Laughlin picked up her second assist, both coming over the last two games.

"It was a nice goal, and getting it so early in the game, put us in good position," remarked UCSD head coach Brian McManus. "Meghan (Berry) got it started with a free kick from about 40 yards, straight on. Katie (O'Laughlin) came across the goal area, and headed it over the keeper and off the crossbar. It took one bounce before Kiera (Bocchino) came on to head it in from about two yards out."

The Tritons would hold on from there, out-shooting the Jacks by a final margin of 23-5, with a season-high 17 of those on goal. It was UCSD's highest shots-on-goal total since it produced 20 in a 5-0 win at Hawai'i Pacific on Sept. 2, 2007.

"This was a really good win for us," added McManus. "We could have had four or five goals, as the statistics indicate. We created some great chances, but their keeper made four or five big-time saves."

Kelcie Brodsky had three saves in goal for UCSD. The fourth-year senior earned her fifth individual clean sheet of 2015 and 24th for her career. Senior Caitlin Plese made 16 stops for the Jacks, matching the single-game high in the CCAA this season, which also came from Plese, in a 2-1 home loss to Sonoma State on Sept. 23.

The Jacks' first shot of the match didn't come until the 24th minute, when Kylie Forbes' effort was saved by Brodsky. HSU later earned a free kick from the top of the penalty area, but Bridget Daley sent it high over the frame.

In the 31st, freshman Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS) got her head to a left-sided cross from close range, but Plese went down to her right to grab it.

The Tritons ultimately produced 12 shots over the first 45 minutes, with, incredibly, 10 of them on target, leading to the one goal and nine saves by Plese.

UCSD's shot barrage continued right after the intermission, as Reilly, the CCAA leader in goals scored, dribbled toward the edge of the penalty box before unleashing a right-footer that came back off the crossbar above Plese. Another Reilly foray within six minutes was denied by the Jacks' busy goalie.

Humboldt State won a free kick from about 25 yards away in the 83rd, looking at the Triton goal straight on, but Jillian Andersen's shot went narrowly wide to the left. Andersen would have another free-kick opportunity, from slightly further away, with under two minutes left, but the ball landed harmlessly in Brodsky's arms. The home side finished the contest with 10 players after a red card at 83:21.

UCSD now leads the all-time series, 12-1-2. The Tritons have won three straight in Arcata since the Jacks' only victory against them, 2-1, back in 2010. It was a second decision by the identical score of 1-0 in as many visits and as many years after last Oct. 26.

UCSD now heads to Rohnert Park to prep for a showdown with Sonoma State this Sunday, Oct. 18. Kickoff at Seawolf Soccer Field is slated for 2 p.m.

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