MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team extended their winning streak to three games with a 4-1 over Simpson University on Friday night at Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (4-3-1, 2-0) winning streak is their longest of the season and the victory allows UC Merced to start 2-0 in Cal Pac play for the fifth time in the last six years.
Jocelyne Garcia scored twice for the Bobcats, while D Covarrubias and Jenn Salinger also netted a goal and recorded two assists. Garcia's multi-goal game was her first of the year and with it she moved into a tie for sixth place on the program's all-time scoring list with 51 career points. Garcia is tied with Veronica Villacorta (2013-17).
The defending Cal Pac Player of the Year opened up the game's scoring in the 8th minute with a ground ball goal from just inside the 18-yard box. Salinger set up Garcia's goal, sending a through ball from the center of the park for her first assist of the season. Garcia outran a pair of Red Hawk defenders prior to catching up the ball and firing her shot.
Simpson answered with an equalizer roughly two minutes later as Haylee Ward beat her defender one-on-one and was able to get into the goal box to score her third goal of the year.
Despite a pair of corner kicks and three shots, the game remained tied 1-1 for the next 15 minutes.
D Covarrubias scored what stood as the game-winning goal in the 26th minute, her first score of the campaign. With it, she passed Bridget Villanueva for ninth on the program's all-time goals list with her 17th career goal. Kyla Dolorfino and Haylee Heffner were credited with assists on the play. The freshman duo each have two assists on the year.
The Bobcats led 2-1 at the half and have led at intermission in all three games during their season-long three-game winning streak.
Less than 90 seconds into the second half, Garcia extended the Bobcats lead to 3-1 with a straightaway one-timer from the top of the 18-yard box. Garcia's right-footed strike beat the diving keeper to her right. Salinger and Covarrubias both earned assists on the play. Salinger's multi-assist game was the second of her career and she passed Karen Lepe on the program's all-time assists list with her 15th career assist.
Covarrubias teamed up with Salinger once again in the 69th minute for the Bobcats final goal of the game. Covarrubias played a long ball up ahead and Salinger managed to catch up to it and despite a defender on, fired across her body into the far corner of the net for the score. Salinger extended her goal scoring streak to a career-best four games.
Covarrbuias' multi-assist game was the second of her career. Her stellar night, which also included the game-winning goal, allowed her to move into a tie with Karen Lepe for sixth on the program's all-time list with 14 career assists.
UC Merced outshot Simpson 21-6 in the win, 16-2 on goal. The Bobcats also won the corner kick battle 4-2. The Bobcats have recorded at least 20 shots in two of their last three games.
Salinger held match-high with eight shots. The Bobcats other goal scorers, Covarrubias and Garcia, each got off three shots. Kimberly Garcia also took three shots.
UC Merced has now won eleven straight games against Simpson dating back to 2013
Looking ahead, UC Merced will visit Pacific Union College on Sunday, October 10. First touch from Angwin, Calif., is scheduled for 3:30pm.
