MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team knocked off Simpson University, 2-0, in the home finale Thursday night on Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (8-2-2, 5-0-1) shutout was their sixth in a row, all coming in conference play. For the second straight year, UC Merced finished unbeaten at home and has won 14 consecutive home matches dating back to 2022. Thirteen of those 14 wins have been shutout victories.
Defensively, UC Merced held Simpson to just four shots and snapped the Red Hawks six-match goal scoring streak. Also of note, the Bobcats are the only Cal Pac team to post a clean sheet against Simpson since 2022.
Kaeley Cariglio registered the Bobcats game-winning goal in the 61st minute, while Yareli Hernandez provided an insurance goal with 67 seconds left. Hernandez's goal was the latest of the season for UC Merced.
Cariglio's goal was her second career GWG against Simpson in just three games vs. the opponent and she scored if after winning possession of a long ball sent inside the box by Macy Max. The pass pulled the keeper off her line, so once Cariglio won the ball, she finished with ease into the empty net. Cariglio's goal was her second in the last four games. Max's assist was her first in a UC Merced uniform.
Prior to Cariglio's goal, the Bobcats had outshot Simpson 11-3. Katy Flores hit the crossbar in the closing seconds of the first half.
Other good opportunities came early in the second half, including a Yesenia Tijerina header off a Cariglio corner kick that was saved by the keeper. In the 53rd minute, Hernandez had a beat on a Red Hawk defender but her shot was also saved.
Following the Bobcats first goal, Ana Centeno got involved in the attack and took four shots in a 20-minute stretch, two of which were on frame. She also served a nice ball into the goal area on a set piece but the shot missed wide.
The Bobcats continued to wear down the Red Hawks defense ultimately leading to Hernandez's goal in the 89th minute. The senior made a move around a defender and used an angle from the left side of the goal area to shoot and beat the leaping goalie near post. Hernandez's goal was her seventh of the season, all coming in the last eight games.
UC Merced outshot Simpson 19-4 overall, 7-1 on target. Simpson's first three shots all came in the first 25 minutes. The visiting team led the shot count 3-1 at the time before getting outshot 18-1 the rest of the night.
Centeno held match-high with four shots. Hernandez, Flores, and Tijerina recorded three apiece.
Alicia Lepe earned her seventh solo shutout of the season making the only save she was tasked with midway through the second half.
Flores, Hernandez, Zitlali Herrera, and Preeya Singh played the full 90 minutes with Lepe.
Head coach Roman DuChateau's team won the corner kick battle 6-0.
With the win, UC Merced is now 15-2 all-time against Simpson, including a perfect 9-0 at home.
The Bobcats six-match unbeaten streak to start Cal Pac play is tied for the longest in program history.
Up next, UC Merced will play at Cal Maritime in the regular season finale on Saturday, October 26. First touch from Bodnar Field in Vallejo, Calif., is scheduled for 11:00am. A win will give UC Merced it's first share of the Cal Pac regular season title since 2016.
