MERCED, Calif. – Trinidad Quiroz scored two goals and Jadyn Gong broke the program's single-season shutouts record as the University of California, Merced women's soccer team knocked off University of Saint Katherine 2-0 on Thursday afternoon in a battle for sole possession of second place in the conference standings.
With the win, the Bobcats (11-2, 8-2) can officially clinch a first round bye in November's California Pacific Conference Championships with one more victory.
Quiroz scored in the 20th minute and again in the 85th to lead the Bobcats offensively. Her two goals brings her to 18 on the year, matching her output from a year ago. The second-year Bobcat also moved into second place on the program's all-time goals list with 36 career goals, passing Emily Burnett who played for UC Merced from 2017-20.
Yareli Hernandez assisted the game-winning goal, sending a cross into Quiroz that pulled the goalkeeper off her line. With two Firebirds marking Quiroz, the San Jose, Calif., native was still able to tap the cross in to the empty net to put the Bobcats ahead 1-0. Also of note, Quiroz played it to Hernandez prior to the cross back inside. Herandez's assist was her second in the last three games.
Another cross from Hernandez in the 85th minute helped lead to the Bobcats second goal.
Her cross was sent to the far side of the goal area and after a couple Firebird touches and an Ordonez touch, Quiroz was there to clean it up and blasted a one-timer in for a goal. Ordonez earned her third assist in Cal Pac play on the score, leading the Bobcats in that category.
Reigning Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week Jadyn Gong made three saves on her way to breaking the program's single-season shutout record with her ninth solo shutout of the campaign. Two of her saves were off free kicks. Gong broke Maggie Morales' record that has stood since 2015. Gong has three straight shutouts with three saves in each of them.
Thursday marked Gong's most impressive shutout of the season, slowing down a Firebirds team who entered the contest averaging 3.5 goals per game over their last five contests.
Overall, UC Merced outshot Saint Katherine 13-8. Each team put three shots on target, two of the Bobcats turned into goals.
USK pressured the Bobcats early with four shots and a corner kick within the first eight minutes but the Bobcats defense stood strong. Opportunities were extremely limited for USK the rest of the way.
Quiroz was responsible for the Bobcats first shot of the game coming ten minutes in. In the 33rd minute, Zitlali Herrera missed high from inside the goal area on a corner kick. Ordonez also nearly added to the Bobcats advantage in the 68th minute firing at an empty net but a Firebird defender made a save.
The Bobcats remained perfect at home with the win improving to 5-0. Head coach Roman DuChateau's team has won seven straight home games dating back to last year.
Also of note, the Bobcats eleven total wins are their most since 2018 and their eight Cal Pac wins ties the program record.
Up next, UC Merced will host University of Antelope Valley for Senior Day on Sunday, October 22 at 1:00pm. A Senior Day ceremony will take place prior to first touch on Bobcat Field in Merced, Calif.
