SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team lost a road nonconference game to UC Santa Cruz Tuesday afternoon, 3-1 in a match that was played in part to celebrate efforts for helping battle Pediatric Brain Cancer.
The two teams combined to raise over $5,000 in the past two and a half months for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's Vs. Cancer program. A check was presented to Vs. Cancer representatives in a pregame ceremony. A portion of the Bobcats proceeds will go to support child life programs in the oncology unit at Valley Children's Hospital in Madera County. The remaining proceeds will go to the Vs. Cancer program.
Tuesday's match marked the fourth straight meeting between the Bobcats (7-6-1, 5-3) and the Banana Slugs.
The Bobcats were outshot 12-9, 6-3 on goal and gave up the first score in the 10th minute to the Slugs Maya Gonzales.
UC Santa Cruz doubled the lead 21 minutes later with the first of two successful Izel Gutierrez penalty kicks. The goal in the 31st minute also went down as the game-winning goal.
The Bobcats managed just three shots in the first half and they all came from freshman Jocelyne Garcia. Garcia's three shots were good enough to share match-high and she is now third on the team with 28 total shots. None of Garcia's shots were on goal and the Bobcats trailed 2-0 going into the half.
The deficit was the largest halftime deficit of the season.
However out of the break, the Bobcats quickly doubled their shots total and cut the deficit in half with a goal from Jenn Salinger in the 52nd minute. Salinger's goal was her fifth in the last five games.
Four minutes later, Clarisa Cisneros took a shot at the equalizer but it was saved by Alyssa Diaz-Tucker.
The next 11 minutes were controlled by UC Santa Cruz. In the stretch, they got off three shots, took a corner kick and forced the Bobcats into five fouls. One of the fouls was inside the box, resulting in the final goal of the match as Gutierrez struck again from the stripe in the 68th minute.
The teams combined for just three shots in a physical final 20 minutes. Salinger had a shot on goal and shared the three-shot match-high with Garcia.
Overall, the Bobcats were whistled for 20 fouls compared to the Slugs nine. Each team received a yellow card.
The Bobcats were without leading scorer Emily Burnett due to an injury.
Sabrina Barata earned her first start of the season.
Looking ahead, the Bobcats get back to California Pacific Conference action when they visit Marymount California University on Saturday, November 2. First touch from El Camino College in Torrance, Calif., is slated for 4:30pm.
