ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - Izzy Pozurama’s goal in the 83rd minute gave the UC San Diego women’s soccer team an enormous 1-0 triumph over 15th-ranked Sonoma State University Friday at Seawolf Soccer Field.

With the victory, UCSD improves to 7-5-3 overall and 4-3-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Tritons also vault over defending league champion Cal State Stanislaus and into sole possession of sixth place in the 12-team standings. The reigning CCAA champion Warriors played to a scoreless draw with first-place Cal State L.A. later Friday in a match that was critical to Triton postseason hopes. UCSD thus remained one point clear of Stanislaus, and now controls its own postseason fate. The top six teams in the final regular-season table qualify for the 2014 CCAA Championship. If the Tritons win their last two games, they advance.

Sonoma State fell to 13-3 overall and 6-3 in league play. The Seawolves were a perfect 7-0 at home prior to Friday’s defeat, having outscored their opponents, 20-3. The Tritons had never lost to Sonoma State before a 3-2 setback in La Jolla in the most recent meeting between the sides a season ago, and with Friday’s redemptive success, are 16-1-3 all-time against SSU.

Pozurama’s potential season-saving strike came from around 10 yards out after the Lake Forest product latched onto a cross from freshman teammate Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS). Her fourth goal of 2014, three of them now game-winners, ties Pozurama for the UCSD lead with McNutt and fellow senior co-captain Cassie Callahan (Coronado/Coronado HS). McNutt’s assist was her team-best seventh. Junior Maile Nilsson (San Diego/The Preuss School UCSD), who provided the initial long ball to McNutt, also was credited with her first assist of the season.

“Maile (Nilsson) played a great ball over the top and Izzy (Pozurama) beat the goalkeeper to the ball and lobbed it over her,” explained UCSD head coach Brian McManus. “It was a fantastic effort. She got just enough on it to clear the keeper and get it to the goal before the defenders got there to clear it off.”

The home side created a legitimate scoring opportunity in the 12th minute on a right-sided cross, but Sara Van Wagoner’s shot attempt from around the penalty spot was expertly blocked away by well-positioned freshman right back Aimee Ellis.

Sonoma State drew a free kick from a dangerous position in the 27th minute, just outside the 18-yard box on the right side, but nothing came of it.

UCSD’s lone effort on target in the opening half was an early shot from distance from Pozurama that did not trouble Sonoma State goalie Allison Hadidian. Sonoma State ultimately held a 6-3 shot advantage over the first 45 minutes, but the match remained scoreless at the break.

“In the first half, Sonoma was the better team, but we organized things a little bit at halftime and started to get more pressure,” said McManus. “It always seemed like the first team to score was going to win it and fortunately, it was us. Even though they controlled things early and had a lot of balls in the box, Kelcie (Brodsky) never really faced a dangerous chance and we defended those situations well.”

Following the interval, a 55th-minute attempt by McNutt forced a Hadidian save. It was to be UCSD’s only shot in the second period aside from the Pozurama goal.

During a five-minute flurry a short time later, the Seawolves had Lauren Curtin shoot high, Marissa Marable go wide, and then Marable and Curtin both get turned away by junior Triton goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky.

With UCSD protecting its 1-0 edge, Marable tried one last-ditch blast from distance with the seconds ticking away, but Brodsky went down to her right to catch the ball.

Brodsky finished with six saves to notch her third successive shutout. She now has four clean sheets on the year and 18 for her career. Hadidian had two stops. Junior Ashley Luis took over for her sophomore teammate for the final 32-plus minutes.

The Seawolves wound up with 14 shots to five by the Tritons, who used the same starting 11 for the seventh game in a row.

“Meghan (Berry) and Maile (Nilsson) came off the bench and really played well,” added McManus. “We subbed more and I think our reserves were a real key today.

“We talked about every one of these last five games being like a playoff game, and I think we’ve responded great. It would have been easy to lie down, but we’ve responded great. The attitudes are right and our players have risen to the challenge. We’ve still got two games to go, but we’ve given ourselves a chance. We need to win those two and hopefully get a little help.”

UCSD finally rounds out a season-long four-match road stretch this Sunday, Oct. 26, at Humboldt State. Kickoff at College Creek Field is set for 11:30 a.m.

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