MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team scored six goals and held University of Antelope Valley without a shot in a 6-0 Senior Day win on Sunday afternoon at Bobcat Field.
With the victory, the Bobcats (12-2, 9-1) officially clinched a first round bye in November's California Pacific Conference Tournament Championships. The Bobcats ninth Cal Pac win also marked a new program record.
Three seniors scored at least one goal on Sunday and the Bobcats six total goals marked their second highest scoring output of the season.
Senior Trinity Dunbar opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, while seniors Isabella Spiva and Carly Kissinger combined for all three goals in the second half. Kissinger scored twice, while Spiva recorded a goal and an assist.
Kathryn Rocha and Kassidy Spiva also scored for the Bobcats. Alondra Higareda tallied her first two assists of the season. Sunday marked the first goals of the season for both I. Spiva, K. Spiva, Kissinger, and Rocha.
UC Merced recorded a season-high 33 shots on the day. Defensively, UC Merced held their second opponent of the season without a shot. Trinidad Quiroz held game-high with eight shots. She nearly got on the board in the 15th minute, but her shot hit the post and then ran adjacent to the goal line but never crossed it. Quiroz was fouled in the box approximately five minutes later.
Dunbar was awarded the penalty kick after the foul and made the most of her opportunity, burying her shot to the left of the keeper for her second goal of the season.
Head coach Roman DuChateau's team also earned a season-high eleven corner kicks and their third of the day resulted in a goal from Rocha.
Higareda took the short corner and then after receiving the ball back from Jennavieve Ordonez, sent a cross into the goal area where Rocha was waiting and headed it in.
Shortly after, Higareda took a free kick shot from 35 yards out and Kassidy Spiva got the rebound after the initial stop from UAV's keeper and sent it across the goal line.
UC Merced led 3-0 at intermission before adding three more goals in the final ten minutes of regulation.
I. Spiva made it 4-0 in the 83rd minute, intercepting a pass from the goalkeeper and firing from 25 yards out into the empty net. Kaeley Cariglio and Carly Kissinger helped set it up as Cariglio sent a long ball into Kissinger that pulled the keeper way off her line. The keeper got to the ball first but Spiva intercepted her clear attempt and scored.
Kissinger got in the scoring column in the 89th minute, taking a penalty kick after a UAV handball just outside the goal area. Kissinger cashed in her shot towards the corner.
The senior put an extra bow on her Senior Day 30 seconds later, tapping in a long ball from I. Spiva near the post. Kissinger took three shots overall, putting all of them on goal and two into the net.
Stephanie Medina, I. Spiva, and Ordonez also took three shots. Alexandra Mendoza earned her first career start.
Kyla Dolorfino and Kacey Rodriguez made their season debut.
Jadyn Gong and Melody Martinez split the 90 minutes between the posts with Gong earning the start. The shutout was the Bobcats 11th of the season.
Spiva played in her 75th career game on Sunday, passing Jenn Salinger for second all-time in program history. Her three-point outing put her ahead of Elizabeth Cruz-Gomez for eighth in program history with 55 career points.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will play at Simpson University on Saturday, October 28th in the regular season finale. First touch from Simpson Soccer Field Redding, Calif., is scheduled for 12:00pm.
