MERCED, Calif. – Trinidad Quiroz scored in the 16th minute and the second-seeded University of California, Merced women's soccer team shutout third-seeded University of Saint Katherine in the California Pacific Conference Championship Semifinals on Thursday night at Bobcat Field.
With the victory, the Bobcats (14-2) advance to Saturday's conference title match and earn their first ever ticket to the NAIA National Championships. The Bobcats also made more history by setting the program's single-season wins record and shutout record with 14 and eleven, respectively.
Thursday night marked the Bobcats sixth consecutive year winning a postseason game which is a Cal Pac record among all active women's soccer teams in the conference.
Quiroz, the Cal Pac Player of the Year proved to be the difference-maker once again in the 17th minute. The junior intercepted a goal kick and after making a move around a Firebird defender, got into the corner of the goal area and put her ground ball shot far post to put the Bobcats up 1-0.
Quiroz's goal was her 21st of the year, tying both the Cal Pac record and program record.
Jadyn Gong also tied a conference's single-season record on Thursday with her eleventh shutout. The Merced, Calif., native was credited with three saves and now has a shutout in back-to-back postseasons.
All of her saves came in the second half, including two in the first five minutes to deny a USK equalizer. She made a brilliant diving save on a Marissa Brees shot from the penalty marker. Brees was all alone with Gong after getting behind the defense but couldn't sneak one past Gong. The Bobcats keeper then saved a header attempt a minute later.
USK keeper Alitzel Razon made a diving save on a Stephanie Medina shot shortly after.
A defensive battle saw the two teams record eight shots each and they combined for just three corner kicks. Quiroz led all players with four shots, putting two on frame. She also took the first two shots of the match.
USK didn't get a shot off until the 18th minute and their first equalizer attempt missed left from the Cal Pac Newcomer of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year Vanessa Cruz.
UC Merced improved to 5-0 all-time against USK with the win, 2-0 in postseason play.
The Bobcats advance to their sixth Cal Pac Tournament Championship game in program history, first since 2020.
UC Merced will look for its first ever tournament title when they host #1 seed and 14th-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday, November 11. First touch from Bobcat Field is scheduled for 11:00am.
