MERCED, Calif. - Trinidad Quiroz tallied her first career hat-trick to lead the University of California, Merced women's soccer team to a dominant 6-1 victory over Soka University of America on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Field.

The Bobcats (5-3-2, 4-2), who have scored six goals in back-to-back games, are now a season-best two games over .500 for the season and in Cal Pac play.

Qurioz's hat-trick was the first for the Bobcats this year and she becomes the 13th player in program history to score at least three goals in a match. She also added an assist to become one of just six Bobcats with at least seven points in a match.

Quiroz scored the eventual game-winning goal in the eleventh minute, before finding the back of the net again in the 53rd and 66th minute. Quiroz's three goals gives her eight total goals on the year, which is good for second in the Cal Pac. 

Isabella Spiva, Stephanie Medina, and Jocelyne Garcia also scored for the Bobcats on Saturday. 

Spiva's goal came in the opening 90 seconds, following a Quiroz shot that ended up right in front of the goal after a save from the Lions keeper. Spiva's goal was her third of the season, all coming on Bobcat Field.

Spiva then earned the assist on the eventual game-winning goal as she delivered a ball to Quiroz ahead of the defense from approximately 50 yards away. 

Medina extended the Bobcats lead to 3-0 in the 34th minute with her first goal of the season off a Ciera Santos cross. The connection had the Bobcats up 3-0 going into halftime for the second consecutive match.

Quiroz was the Bobcats first goal scorer out of the break and put her team up 4-0 in the 53rd minute. Garcia set the goal up, serving a ball in right in front of the post that Quiroz was able to one-time into the back of the net. Garcia's assist was her third of the year and 22nd of her career, putting her one assist away from tying Jenn Salinger for the program's top mark.

Garcia then scored a goal of her own in the 63rd minute. After a through ball from Jennavieve Ordonez out of the midfield, Garcia took a couple touches to create a clean shot and then rocketed one from 20 yards out past the leaping keeper. The senior has scored in back-to-back games and has five goals on the year. Ordonez's assist was her fourth, putting her in a tie with Kyla Dolorfino and Quiroz for the team lead.

Quiroz completed her hat-trick and scored the Bobcats sixth goal in the 67th minute off Hannah DeLay's first career assist.

UC Merced outshot Soka 27-6 overall, 16-4 on target. The 27 shots marked the Bobcats Cal Pac high this season. The Bobcats also won the corner kick battle 4-0.

Quiroz held match-high with nine shots and put at least seven shots on target for the second time in her sophomore campaign. Spiva and Garcia each recorded three shots on goal.

Soka scored their lone goal in the 80th minute.

Jadyn Gong, Melody Martinez and Veronica Vazquez shared time between the posts for UC Merced. Gong earned the start and made her lone save she was tasked with.

Maddie Door made her 2022 debut in the victory and returned to action for the first time since October 31, 2021 due to an injury.

With the win, the Bobcats are now 8-3-1 all-time against Soka. Saturday's five-goal advantage was the Bobcats biggest ever scoring margin against the Lions.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats host Providence Christian College on Thursday, October 13. First touch is scheduled for 5:00pm on Bobcat Field.