RIVERSIDE, Calif. - California Pacific Conference Player of the Year Jocelyne Garcia scored twice and the University of California, Merced women's soccer team shutout University of Saint Katherine on Friday afternoon, 2-0 in the Cal Pac Semifinals.
The Bobcats (7-0) will play in their fourth consecutive conference championship game Saturday night against the winner of La Sierra University and Simpson University. The Bobcats fourth straight championship game appearance ties the longest streak the conference has seen in the last ten years (ERAU, 2012-15).
Both of Garcia's goals came in the first half. Her game-winning goal in the 30th minute was buried into the upper 90 from approximately 30 yards out on a free kick.
Garcia went upper 90 again in the 41st minute, this time from 40 yards out. She is just the second player in program history to score twice in a postseason game, joining D Covarrubias who first accomplished the feat in 2018.
Both of Garcia's goals were unassisted and the sophomore now has 12 goals in 2021, three away from tying the program's single-season record.
Ally Lozano and Veronica Vasquez combined for the shutout and stopped seven shots. Lozano, All-Cal Pac Second Team selection, earned the start. Friday afternoon marked the Bobcats second ever postseason shutout, the first since 2015.
Both teams managed to get off 14 shots. Ten of the Bobcats 14 shots were on target, three of which came off the foot of Joc. Garcia.
Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year Isabella Spiva took three shots, two on goal.
Prior to the game, Emily Burnett, D Covarrubias and Maddie Door were named All-Cal Pac First Team selections, as was player of the year Joc. Garcia and defender of the year Bella Spiva.
Ally Lozano and Kaylee "Skittles" Melendez were named to the All-Cal Pac Second Team, while Jessica Garcia earned honorable mention.
The semifinal match was just the second ever meeting between UC Merced and Saint Katherine.
Tomorrow night's championship game is scheduled for 8:15pm in Riverside. A UC Merced win would secure the Bobcats first ever tournament championship and their first ever bid to the national tournament.
