SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team fell 3-1 at The Master's University on Saturday afternoon at Reese Field.
Trinidad Quiroz scored the Bobcats (1-1) lone goal, her second straight game with a goal and her fifth score of the early season.
The San Jose, Calif., native scored in the 36th minute off a free kick to cut a 2-0 deficit in half. Set up just outside the 18-yard box and slightly to the left of the goal, Quiroz fired far corner and her shot hit the post and went into the net.
With her latest score, Quiroz moves past Veronica Villacorta and into a three-way tie for fifth in program history with Daisy Bonilla (2013-16) and D Covarrubias (2017-21) with 23 career goals.
Despite the loss, the Bobcats outshot The Master's 11-10 and were whistled for less fouls.
TMU got on the board first in the 13th minute, sneaking in a goal from the top of the 18-yard box and past the Bobcats diving keeper. They doubled their lead approximately ten minutes later connecting on a cross into the center of the box which would ultimately go down as the game-winning goal.
The home team added a third goal in the 66th minute.
Cynthia Ramos, Jordyn Bingaman, and Harmony Rohde were TMU's three goal scorers, respectively. Ramos also recorded an assist.
For the Bobcats, Quiroz and Giulia Salemme applied continuous pressure offensively but weren't able to cut into the deficit in the second half. They each put two shots on goal in the final 40 minutes. UC Merced also earned a corner kick in the second half and three on the day.
UC Merced goalkeeper Jadyn Gong finished with six saves on the afternoon. Gong, who logged all 90 minutes in goal, passed Emma Broderick for fourth in program history with 21 career starts and Gabby Vinco for sixth with 52 career saves.
Other notables include the collegiate debut for freshman Elisa Garcia and UC Merced debut's for transfers Ana Centeno and Kathryn Rocha.
Up next, UC Merced will face Menlo College in Atherton, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 24 at 4:00pm.
