MERCED, Calif. – Four different Bobcats scored a goal and the University of California, Merced women's soccer team outshot Soka University of America 24-3 en route to a 4-0 win on Friday night at Bobcat Field.

With the shutout, the Bobcats (7-2-2, 4-0-1) have posted five consecutive clean sheets to start California Pacific Conference play for the second straight season.

Head coach Roman DuChateau's team also clinched a spot in the upcoming Cal Pac Championships with the victory. It will be the Bobcats eleventh straight conference tournament appearance.

Reigning Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Week Katy Flores was credited with her first career game-winning goal. Elisa Garcia notched a three-point match with a goal and an assist, while Macy Max and Yareli Hernandez scored a goal apiece.

Flores' GWG came in the seventh minute placing her shot top shelf from 25 yards away. Flores earned the scoring opportunity intercepting a Lions clear attempt after a Bobcats corner kick.

The Bobcats earned another corner kick 90 seconds later and doubled their lead with Max's first goal in a UC Merced uniform. After Garcia's header attempt was blocked, Max finished the threat blasting her shot over the goalkeepers head.

UC Merced recorded seven more shots and two more corner kicks in the first half but the score remained 2-0 at intermission. Yesenia Tijerina was dangerous with a couple shots. Soka failed to take a shot until the 40^th minute.

The Bobcats extended their lead to 3-0 in the 54^th minute on another corner kick. Kaeley Cariglio, who also took the Bobcats first two corner kicks that resulted in goals, again served in a beautiful ball. Makena Jensen attempted a shot directly off the corner that was kick saved by the Lions keeper before Garcia was there for the rebound and poked it in. Jensen's assist was her second of the season, while Garcia's goal was her first.

Yareli Hernandez tacked on the Bobcats final goal in the 61^st minute ripping a shot past the diving keeper from the top of the 18-yard box. Hernandez, who attempted to set up a teammate before the ball got knocked back to her for the scoring opportunity, has now scored five goals in as many games.

Soka, who didn't take a shot for the first 35 minutes of the second half, had two chances in the closing ten minutes. Soka put their first of two attempts high off a corner kick, and then their final shot in the 89^th minute off a free kick was blocked by Kassidy Spiva on the wall.

Alicia Lepe recorded the shutout for the Bobcats, her sixth of the season. She becomes just the third player in program history with six clean sheets in a campaign, joining Maggie Morales and Jadyn Gong. Lepe was not tasked with a save.

UC Merced handed Soka it's first loss of conference play and first loss overall since September 6. Soka entered the contest 8-2 overall and were averaging 4.5 goals per game during their unbeaten streak.

Also of note, Soka hadn't conceded four goals in their first ten games of the year.

Eleven of the Bobcats 23 shots were on target and the home team won the corner kick battle 7-2. Cariglio held match-high with six shots.

A physical game saw a combined 29 fouls called. There were no cautions.

UC Merced improved to 10-3-1 all-time against Soka.

Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Simpson University in the 2024 home finale on Thursday, October 24 at 4:00pm on Bobcat Field.