MESA, Ariz. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team scored three goals in the first 25 minutes of action and earned their program-best seventh straight shutout in a 3-0 win over Benedictine University Mesa on Friday night at Bell Bank Park.
The Bobcats (8-1, 5-0) shutout streak bests the previous record from the 2016 campaign. Also of note, the Bobcats seven-match winning streak is the longest regular-season winning streak in program history.
Kaeley Cariglio led the Bobcats offensively with a goal and two assists. Trinity Dunbar and Yesenia Tijerina scored a goal each.
Jadyn Gong stopped a second half penalty shot in the win to preserve the shutout. She recorded all 90 minutes with center back Preeya Singh. Outside back Baleigh Zamudio played 84 minutes. Gong's solo shutout was her sixth of the season.
Dunbar opened up the Bobcats scoring in the sixth minute, one-timing a Cariglio cross from the top of the box. Dunbar's goal was her first of the season.
Five minutes later, Cariglio played Tijerina on the outside of the 18-yard box and Tijerina lasered a banger off the crossbar and into the goal. The junior scored from 25 yards away to double the Bobcats lead.
After recording two assists on the day, Cariglio scored her first goal of the year in the 23rd minute tapping in a cross from Jennavieve Ordonez.
UC Merced outshot BenU Mesa 19-4 on the day, 14-2 on target. Trinidad Quiroz got off four shots and placed three on frame. She hit the crossbar in the 11th minute off a free kick. Tijerina and Stephanie Medina each put two shots on goal.
The Bobcats also earned five corner kicks while limiting BenU to just one.
The Bobcats improved to 6-2 all-time against BenU.
Up next, UC Merced faces #14 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Sunday, September 24 in Prescott, Ariz. Kickoff from Varsity Field is scheduled for 1:00pm.
