PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The UC Merced women's soccer team is headed to their third straight California Pacific Conference Championship with a 2-1 double overtime victory in Thursday afternoon's semifinal matchup against the University of Antelope Valley Pioneers.
The Pioneers (9-0-1 in conference play) ended the season as co-champions of the Cal Pac Conference alongside host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. With tiebreakers in play, the Pioneers drew the No. 2 seed and a pairing with the third-seeded Bobcats (7-3 in conference play).
Earlier this season when the Bobcats squared off with UAV in Lancaster, Calif., the Pioneers came out victorious in a 2-1 double overtime win with a goal in the 106th minute.
In tonight's match-up it was the Pioneers who attacked first. Kristin Osuna, the Cal Pac Player of the Year, dribbled into the Bobcat 18-yard box and goalkeeper Ally Lozano was forced off her line to make a quick reaction save within the first minute of the game. After this early shot attempt, the Bobcats senior center back duo of Sydney Quintero and Noodles Sidhu held Osuna without a shot in the run of play.
The first half proved to be a defensive battle with only three shots being recorded leaving the Bobcats and Pioneers scoreless at the break.
Antelope Valley would be the first to strike in the second half with a well-placed ball in the right-side netting by Ana Sofia Salas at the 66:13-minute mark.
With the season on the line, the Bobcats were able to find the tying goal just over ten minutes later off the foot of junior D Covarrubias. Covarrubias' well-struck lofted ball found the UAV keeper off her line from 20-yards out. The tally marked Covarrubias' third straight year recording an assist or goal in the conference semifinals.
Junior striker Jenn Salinger came out the hero for the Bobcats as her goal in the 104th minute sealed the deal for the season to continue. Salinger's goal places her as the all-time leader in points for UC Merced women's soccer with 75 points. Her 75 points are made up of 31 goals and 13 assists.
The golden goal victory also gives UC Merced at least ten wins for the sixth consecutive season. The late goal also marked the Bobcats first double overtime win since September 14, 2017.
The Bobcats now enter Saturday's championship match-up with the feat of winning the first conference tournament championship in UC Merced women's soccer history. They will face off against the No. 4 seed Marymount California University Mariners, who upset No. 1 Embry-Riddle earlier in the day. The Bobcats and Mariners squared off just two weeks ago with the Bobcats taking the 1-0 win in Torrance, Calif.
Championship game time is set for 5:00pm PST and can be viewed online here.
The winner of Saturday's championship will advance to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.
