UCSD Women Upset No. 8 CSUSB, 1-0

October 4, 2014

LA JOLLA, Calif. - When her team needed her most, senior All-American Cassie Callahan as she so often has in her three-plus years on the UC San Diego campus, delivered.

Callahan (Coronado HS) knocked in fellow San Diego productJordyn McNutt’s (University City HS) 80th-minute corner kick as UCSD upset eighth-ranked and previously-undefeated Cal State San Bernardino, 1-0, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s soccer action Friday night at Triton Soccer Stadium.

The game marked the Tritons’ first since UCSD students returned to campus for Thursday’s start to the fall quarter, with 549 spectators on hand.

UCSD improved to an even 4-4-1 overall and 1-2 in the CCAA. The Tritons were off to an 0-2 league start for the first time in their CCAA history (since 2000). CSUSB dropped to 9-1 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Coyotes had entered the match on a streak of five straight shutout victories, and having not allowed a goal defensively in 507:42. That stretch was ended at 587:34 when Callahan struck late on Friday.

The contest’s lone goal, coming officially at the 79:53 mark, put Callahan in a tie for the team lead with McNutt, now at three apiece. McNutt, a true freshman, continues to pace the squad with five assists, with three of them coming from corner kicks. Two of those were to Callahan, whose career goal tally stands at 22.

Junior Triton goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky logged her first individual shutout of 2014 and 15th of her career, making four saves. Sophomore Emily Whyte stopped four shots of her own for the visitors.

UCSD, which outshot the Coyotes, 11-9, snapped a scoreless streak of 259:52 when Callahan found the back of the net, after consecutive 1-0 losses to open league play. Fellow senior co-captain Izzy Pozurama led all players with three shots in a rare midfield start for the fifth-year Triton. Freshman Katie O’Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School) drew her first collegiate start at Pozurama’s usual forward spot.

With a shuffle necessitated by injury, another freshman, Aimee Ellis, who had started in central midfield and at forward already this season, made her debut as the starting right back in head coach Brian McManus' traditional 3-5-2 alignment.

CSUSB generated the game’s first real scoring opportunity in the 10th minute, as Kiana Quarles cut through two defenders on the right flank before crossing to the far post for Jillian Seminara, whose shot was saved by Brodsky. In the 19th, Callahan passed to Kiera Bocchino, but the redshirt sophomore’s left-footed effort was saved.

UCSD began the second half with back-to-back chances. Within the first five minutes, first Callahan’s header from a McNutt feed was rejected by Whyte. Then a long-distance pass down the left side by center back Michelle Yasutake was met by Pozurama, whose left-footed shot was again denied by Whyte at the near post.

In the 58th, Jasmine Williams took a dribbling run through the Triton defense before laying off to Quarles, but the sophomore San Diego native’s right-footed shot was saved. Two minutes later, Pozurama’s blast narrowly skimmed over the crossbar.

UCSD travels to Chico next to take on the Chico State Wildcats this Sunday, Oct. 5. Kickoff at University Soccer Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.

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