IRVINE, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team shared the points with Westcliff University in a scoreless draw on Thursday night at OC Great Park.
With the draw, the Bobcats (6-2-2, 3-0-1) and Westcliff both have ten points and remain tied for first place in the Cal Pac standings with three conference matches remaining. UC Merced is unbeaten through four Cal Pac matches for the fourth time in the last five years and have opened up with four consecutive shutouts in back-to-back seasons.
UC Merced put pressure on the Warriors outshooting the opponent 8-2 and earning eight corer kicks.
The Bobcats produced their first corner kick just three minutes into the match but Zitlali Herrera sent her header attempt wide.
Macy Max recorded the Bobcats first shot on goal in the 16th minute but it was saved by Warriors keeper Kayli Cokley.
UC Merced was the most dangerous early in the second half when they put together six shots in a seven-minute stretch. Five different Bobcats combined for the scoring opportunities, but only Makena Jensen tasked the keeper with a save. Kaeley Cariglio took two shots in the busy timeframe.
Westcliff's lone shot on goal in the match came in the 87th minute saved by Alicia Lepe. It resulted in a Warriors corner, but the Bobcats withstood the Warriors final threat to secure the shutout.
Lepe's shutout was her fifth of the campaign. Lepe joins just Jadyn Gong, Maggie Morales, and Ally Lozano as the only players in program history with five or more shutouts in a single season.
Katy Flores, Max, Preeya Singh, and Yesenia Tijerina played all 90 minutes for head coach Roman DuChateau.
Elisa Garcia earned her first start of the season and second of her career.
The draw puts the all-time series between the two opponents at 1-1-1.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Soka University of America on Friday, October 19. First touch from Bobcat Field in Merced, Calif., is scheduled for 4:30pm.
