MERCED, Calif. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team won 3-1 in its season opener against William Jessup University Friday night on Bobcat Field.
Stephanie Medina, Jenn Salinger and Haylee Heffner each scored a goal, giving Bobcat fans plenty to cheer about as the Bobcat Field gates were open to spectators for the first time in over 650 days.
The Bobcats, who have now won two straight season openers and five straight games overall against William Jessup, opened the scoring late in the first half when Medina lasered a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and straight down into the goal.
The goal was Medina's first of her career and it put the Bobcats up 1-0 in the 41st minute. The Bobcats have scored first in their last nine regular season games dating back to the 2019 season.
William Jessup's Nadia Vazquez netted an equalizer just before halftime.
Jessup threatened to take the lead out of intermission, taking three shots within the first five minutes including a shot from Kaylee Gillespie that ricocheted off the crossbar.
The Bobcats withstood Jessup's early second half charge and outshot the opponent 10-6 the rest of the night.
The first of those ten Bobcat shots occurred in the 52nd minute and resulted in the game-winning goal. The goal-scoring sequence was a beautiful sight to see as 13 consecutive Bobcat passes were strung together before Salinger found herself with only the keeper to beat.
Salinger's goal was the 32nd of her career and with it she passed Claudia Diaz for second place on the program's all-time goals list.
Recording the assists on Salinger's goal were Merced freshman Haylee Heffner and the Bobcats most experienced player, D Covarrubias.
Like Salinger, Covarrubias also moved up the record book and is now seventh all-time with 12 career assists.
Salinger, Bella Spiva and Jocelyne Garcia accounted for the majority of the Bobcats shots the rest of the way.
While the All-Cal Pac trio peppered Jessup with shots down the stretch, the Bobcats defense stood strong and forced goalkeeper Veronica Vazquez to make just one save. Overall on the night, Vazquez tallied five saves in her first career start and the majority of them came in the first half.
Heffner, a Golden Valley High School product, added an insurance goal for the Bobcats in the 87th minute off an assist from Garcia. Heffner became the 13th Bobcat in program history to score in her collegiate debut.
Along with Heffner, freshman defenders Kyla Dolorfino and Lilly Boucher also made their collegiate debut. Dolorfino earned the start as an outside back.
Other notables include four shots each from Salinger and Ciera Santos, and three shots off the foot of Medina.
The Bobcats defended six Jessup corner kicks successfully.
Looking ahead, UC Merced travels to Atherton, Calif., to take on Menlo College on Saturday, September 4 at 1:30pm.
