ANGWIN, Calif. - Jenn Salinger and Jocelyne Garcia each tallied four points to lead the University of California, Merced women's soccer team to a 4-2 road win over Pacific Union College on Sunday afternoon.
All of Salinger's and Garcia's points came in the final five minutes of the first half, which was enough for the Bobcats (5-3-1, 3-0) to extend their season-long winning streak to four games and start 3-0 in Cal Pac play for the fifth time in the last six years.
Salinger scored a goal each in the 41st and 42nd minute. The goals came less than 60 seconds of clock time apart and were both assisted by Garcia. Her first goal was fired from roughly 35 yards out and it extended her career-long goal scoring streak to five games.
Salinger's second goal was a header from just outside the goal box that got over the leaping Pioneers goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Garcia set up Salinger for the score, sending a perfect ball in from near the corner flag. Salinger has two multi-goal games in Cal Pac play. This was Garcia's first multi-assist game of the season.
Garcia got a goal of her own in the final seconds leading up to intermission. Sprinting into the left side of the 18-yard box, Garcia received a through ball from Kaylee Melendez and buried her right-footed shot into the center of the net for what stood as the game-winning goal. The well-executed attack drew the keeper out of the goal box. Garcia has now scored in three straight games, her second longest goal scoring streak of her career.
The Petaluma, Calif., native also moved up the program record books in career points, goals and assists with her stellar afternoon on the pitch. Garcia passed Veronica Villacorta and Elizabeth Cruz-Gomez for fifth all-time with 55 career points, passed Cruz-Gomez and Ashley Bennett for sixth all-time with 20 career goals, and moved into a tie with current teammate Jenn Salinger for fifth on the program's record list with 15 career assists.
Salinger and Garcia had the Bobcats on top 3-0 after 45 minutes of play for the third straight conference game. The Bobcats also held at least a three-goal lead at halftime in the first three conference games last year.
Pacific Union cut into the Bobcats lead in the 53rd minute on a free kick.
Nadia Maldonado regained the Bobcats three-goal advantage in the 87th minute, tapping a Haylee Heffner cross over the goal line for her first goal of the season. Heffner's assist was her second of the year, first since the season opener against William Jessup University.
Pacific Union once again cut into the margin and finalized the scoring in the 88th minute via a corner kick. Olivia Jessee and Judy Vallier were the Pioneers two goal scorers on Sunday, Vallier with the latter goal.
Overall, the Bobcats outshot PUC 26-9, 7-5 on goal. The Bobcats 26 shots is the second highest shot total of the season and both games have come on the road.
Kimberly Garcia got off a career-high seven shots. Salinger and Garcia had five each, while Carly Kissnger recorded three and two other Bobcats got off a pair.
UC Merced won the corner kick battle, 4-3.
Trinity Dunbar earned her first career start in the win.
Sunday's meeting was just the second all-time between the two schools.
Looking ahead, UC Merced continues their three-game road trip at 24th-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Friday, October 15. First touch from Varsity Field in Prescott, Ariz., is scheduled for 5:00pm.
