MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced men's soccer team beat La Sierra University 3-0 in the California Pacific Conference Semifinals Thursday afternoon on Bobcat Field.
With the victory, the Bobcats (7-0) now have the opportunity to win their first ever Cal Pac Tournament Championship when they play host to Benedictine University Mesa at 2:00pm on Friday.
Rodolfo Prado, the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year, scored the Bobcats game-winning goal in the 11th minute, while Ricky Rosas and Andres Lua each tacked on a goal early in the second half.
All three goal scorers were named All-Cal Pac First Team selections prior to the match, as was goalkeeper Marco Sobrevilla and midfielder Juan Flores. Flores was named Cal Pac Player of the Year.
The Bobcats dominated the match throughout, outshooting the Golden Eagles 27-7 and winning the corner kick battle 8-1. Both totals were the Bobcats highest since the season opener.
Prado's game-winning goal was his fourth of the season and it came off a Jimmy Lorenti corner kick. Prado made himself the biggest target in the 18-yard box, leaping in the air and heading Lorenti's perfect ball into the top portion of the net. Lorenti's assist was his second of the season.
The Bobcats got off 14 more shots the remainder of the first half, including a shot each from Michael De La Cruz and Kevin Capetillo that forced La Sierra's goalkeeper Javier Lopez to make a pair of diving saves within a 30 second span.
Rosas fired a missile off the crossbar in the closing seconds.
Sebastian Perez got off the Bobcats first shot in the second half. A few minutes later, Perez pressured La Sierra once more and a shot attempt from inside the box went off the hand of La Sierra's center back, Luis Perez, resulting in a penalty kick.
Cal Pac Coach of the Year Albert Martins elected for Rosas to take the kick and the senior beat Lopez with a ground ball for his second score of the year.
Rosas' goal came in the 54th minute.
Lua's goal followed roughly six minutes later, a strike into the upper right corner from the top of the 18. All-Cal Pac First Team defenders Prado and Rosas earned assists on the play. Lua's goal was his team-leading eighth of the year and he has now scored in six of the seven games.
The semifinal marked the second straight game and fourth time this year in which at least three different Bobcats found the back of the net.
Sobrevilla earned the start between the posts and wasn't forced into making a save in 71 minutes of action. Brycen Miller took over late and also didn't have to stop a shot.
The Bobcats seven straight shutouts extends upon what is already a program record.
Up next, the Bobcats first California Pacific Conference Championship game since 2017. A win over BenU Mesa captures the first tournament championship in program history and would send the Bobcats to the National Championship Opening Round for the fourth consecutive season.
First touch from Bobcat Field is scheduled for 2:00pm.
