LA JOLLA, Calif. - A pair of first-half goals by sophomores Elisa Martinez (El Cajon/Univ. of Sioux Falls/Francis Parker School) and Katie O'Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) earned the UC San Diego women's soccer team a big 2-0 win over Cal State San Marcos in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match Wednesday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.

In improving to 10-5-1 overall and 6-4-1 in the CCAA, UCSD reached the 10-win mark for the first time since 2012. The Tritons took over sole possession of second place in the league table, but have more games played than their opponents ahead and behind them. Cal State San Marcos fell to 3-7-5 overall and 3-5-3 in league play. It was the first CCAA meeting between the area foes, with the Cougars new to the conference this season. Wednesday indeed marked just the second-ever matchup, with the sides previously playing to a scoreless draw in La Jolla on Sept. 3, 2008.

Martinez, a first-year transfer starting for just the third time in central midfield in the injury absences of Brie Diaz and Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS), scored her first goal as a Triton in the 27th minute, and indeed produced an incredible strike to open her account. Having gathered the ball with a quick left-footed touch as it approached her from the right, she unleashed a wicked left-footed shot from between 20 and 25 yards out, that always looked destined for the upper left corner, which is exactly where it nestled. Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) and Jamie Benedetto were each credited with assists, McNutt's her team-best fifth and Benedetto's her third.

O'Laughlin doubled the Triton advantage in the 34th minute, grabbing her sixth as she sits in second on the team scoring chart. Danielle Nunn played fellow freshman Megumi Barber (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) up the middle of the park, with the latter laying off deftly to the left to the waiting O'Laughlin, who put her right-footed shot into the bottom right corner past the reach of the diving Cougar goalie. Barber's assist was her second, with Nunn's the first of her college career.

Senior Kelcie Brodsky made four saves in goal for the Tritons, completing her sixth individual shutout of the year and 25th for her career. It was a third clean sheet over UCSD's last four contests. Allie Jara started in between the pipes for the Cougars, but did not make a stop. Erica Dory took over at halftime and posted four saves in the second period. UCSD out-shot CSUSM, 12-10.

UCSD had further scoring opportunities, one good one in each half. Just past the half-hour mark in the first, O'Laughlin got free up the middle and shot toward an empty net, only for CSUSM defender Brooke Carter to clear the ball before it could cross the goal line. Within four minutes of the second-half whistle, McNutt's effort from the right diagonal appeared to take a peculiar deflection before it came off the left post.

The visitors' best chance to cut into their deficit came in the 72nd minute, when Sarah Campbell's sliding shot on the right side of the penalty area hit the left post.

With sophomore right back Aimee Ellis also joining Diaz and Ramos among the unavailable for the home side, sophomore Makenzie Brito earned her first start of the year and second of her college days.

The Tritons and Cougars will meet again in just nine days, in non-conference action this time on Friday, Oct. 30, once more in La Jolla.

In the meantime, UCSD heads back to Northern California to round out the conference portion of its schedule, playing at archrival Chico State this Friday, Oct. 23. Kickoff at University Soccer Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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