MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team earned a 1-0 shutout over La Sierra University in the regular season finale Friday afternoon on Bobcat Field.
With the win, the Bobcats (6-0) finish California Pacific Conference play undefeated for the first time in program history and become one of just three Cal Pac teams to accomplish that feat in the last ten years.
As for the entire nation this year, the Bobcats are one of just four teams remaining with a perfect record. UC Merced is in the same company as 5th-ranked Martin Methodist, 12th-ranked John Brown and Our Lady of Lake.
The Bobcats six-game winning streak ties the longest in program history, originally set back in the 2014-15 season.
Emily Burnett scored the Bobcats game-winning goal in the 43rd minute off an assist from Jocelyne Garcia. After intercepting a La Sierra throw-in, Garcia lifted a pass to Burnett on the far side of the 18-yard box. Burnett, the program's all-time scoring leader and 2X reigning Cal Pac Player of the Week, played the pass well and powered a one-timer to the far post and into the net.
Burnett's goal was her fifth of the season, third game-winning goal.
Garcia now has a team-high four assists on the year and has recorded either an assist or a goal in all six games for the Bobcats.
Overall the Bobcats outshot La Sierra 15-9, 7-3 on goal. Kyndra Kiser and Isabella Spiva shared team-high with three shots each.
For the first time this season, the opponent earned more corner kick opportunities than the Bobcats. La Sierra took three corners, while the Bobcats took two.
Combining for the Bobcats shutout were goalkeepers Ally Lozano and Veronica Vasquez. Lozano earned the start and directed her strong back line throughout the first 45 minutes and didn't have to make a save. La Sierra failed to get off a single shot in the first half.
Vasquez earned the final 45 minutes in net and stopped three La Sierra shots to secure the shutout. Two of Vasquez's saves came in the final ten minutes of regulation. A La Sierra shot also went off the post in the same time span.
Center back Daisy Perez also blocked a pair of shots and played the full 90 minutes in regulation. Perez's counter part in the center, Jessica Garcia, also played 90 minutes and was key in limiting the opponent to single figure shots for the sixth consecutive match.
Other UC Merced notables include strong offensive sequences in the minutes leading up to Burnett's game-winning goal. Spiva and Joc. Garcia peppered La Sierra with back-to-back-to-back shots in the 29th minute but came up empty. In the 38th minute, Madison Whitney rocketed a shot off the crossbar and a rebound from Ciera Santos was saved by La Sierra's Ashley Villagrana.
Villagrana finished with six saves.
Friday's match was the final scheduled home game for graduating seniors Emily Burnett, Miranda Alvear, Yaretzi Ramirez, Kyndra Kiser, Ally Lozano and Jessica Garcia. The senior class has made the postseason every year.
The Bobcats, winners of this year's north division, will begin preparation for the upcoming California Pacific Conference Championships scheduled to begin Friday, April 9 in Riverside, Calif.
With a win in the tournament opener, the Bobcats would be crowned regular season champions and advance to their first ever NAIA National Tournament.
