MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team fell short of an upset over 24th-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, dropping a 2-1 contest Sunday afternoon on Bobcat Field.
In the Bobcats (3-3-1,1-1) loss, sophomore Kimberly Garcia scored an equalizer in the 40th minute and junior goalkeeper Ally Lozano tallied a career-high ten saves to threaten the Eagles 27-game California Pacific Conference winning streak.
Garcia's goal marked her first of the season, sixth of her career and she is now one of just five Cal Pac players to score a goal against Embry-Riddle during the streak. Garcia is also the conferences first player to score an equalizer against Embry-Riddle since October 22, 2016.
Garcia scored the goal inside the six-yard box, taking the ball off a hop and tapping it by the Eagles keeper. Emily Burnett started the offensive opportunity at the top of the 18 and was credited with an assist. Kaylee Melendez also earned an assist on the goal.
Burnett's assist is her third in the last two games, while Melendez recorded the first assist of her career. Melendez is one of two Bobcat freshmen with an assist this season.
The equalizer in a rematch of last year's Cal Pac Championship game came 36 minutes after the Eagles found the back of the net. The goal in the 4th minute was put in by Embry-Riddle's leading scorer Sierra Vicente and was one of 12 shots the visitors had on frame. Overall, Embry-Riddle outshot the Bobcats 17-15.
Exactly half of the combined 32 shots came in the first 25 minutes of the second half. Lozano kept the game tied with three saves in the first five minutes, while the Eagles keeper had to stop four shots of her own soon after. Salinger made Aaron work with two shots within from close distance. Aaron managed to deny Salinger with one fist save and one foot save.
Burnett also had a couple shots during the stretch and finished the match sharing match-high with four shots, three on goal.
The eventual game-winning goal was scored by the Eagles in the 71st minute, a successful penalty kick sent into the right corner by Maddy Mak.
Bobcat defenders Noodles Sidhu and Sydney Quintero each managed to get off a shot in hope of a second equalizer but the first shot was saved by Aaron and the second shot was wide.
The Bobcats 15 shots Sunday afternoon matched the total amount combined from the two games against Embry-Riddle last year.
The shots came despite just two corner kicks, one in each half. Embry-Riddle only had one corner kick.
Up next, UC Merced heads south to take on Providence Christian College on Thursday, October 4. First touch in Pasadena is scheduled for 11:30am.
