MERCED, Calif. – Yesenia Tijerina's hat trick on Senior Night highlighted University of California, Merced women's soccer 's 6-0 win over Providence Christian College on Saturday night at Bobcat Field.
The Bobcats (6-2-1, 3-0) six goals marked UC Merced's highest offensive output of the season. The six-goal margin of victory was also the biggest this year.
With the win, the Bobcats are 3-0 in Cal Pac play for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in the last five years. Additionally, the Bobcats have now won 12 consecutive home matches dating back the 2022 season which is the longest home winning streak in program history.
Tijerina started the offensive explosion in the 14th minute heading in an Ana Centeno corner kick. Centeno's assist on the eventual game-winning goal was the first of her career.
She doubled the Bobcats lead less than 20 seconds of clock time later, stealing possession from the Sea Beggars back line and immediately firing and scoring from 30 yards away.
Tijerina secured her hat trick in the 25th minute beating her on-ball defender into the corner of the 18-yard box before beating the diving keeper near post. The senior became the second player in the Roman DuChateau era to record a hat trick, joining Trinidad Quiroz. All-time, Tijerina is the 14th different player with a hat trick in program history and her 12 total goals this season is already tied with Claudia Diaz for the fifth most goals in a season in UC Merced history.
Kaeley Cariglio added to the Bobcats offense in the 43rd minute extending the lead to 4-0. Her goal was her first of the season. Aaliyah Hernandez and Alexia Alva earned their first career assists on the score with Hernandez starting the scoring opportunity intercepting a PCC goal kick.
The Bobcats kept the pressure high in the second half and earned a penalty kick in the 57th minute that Yareli Hernandez converted into a 5-0 lead. Hernandez's tally extended her goal scoring streak to three matches.
Giulia Salemme finalized the scoring and put the Bobcats up 6-0 in the 65th minute with her first career goal. Liliana Johnson earned her first assist of the year and the second of her career as she headed a through ball down the field from the center circle to Salemme directly off a PCC free kick. Salemme then took a couple dribbles into the box and buried her shot far post.
UC Merced outshot Providence Christian College 32-3 on the night and put 18 shots on goal. The Bobcats also earned four corner kicks while holding the opponent without one.
Fourteen Bobcats took at least one shot. Cariglio, Katy Flores, and Tijerina shared match-high with four shots apiece. Each Bobcat put at least two on frame.
Jadyn Gong secured the Bobcats shutout with two saves. The shutout marked the 18th of her career, while the win was her 27th all-time to move into a tie with Ally Lozano for the second most goalkeeper wins in program history.
Kassidy Spiva, Melody Her, and Centeno earned their first career starts in the victory.
Jordan Florence made her UC Merced debut.
Seniors Jadyn Gong, Kyla Dolorfino, Kassidy Spiva, Yareli Hernandez, Kathryn Rocha, Ana Centeno, Alondra Higareda, Zitlali Herrera, Makena Jensen, and Yesenia Tijerina were celebrated prior to the match in a Senior Night ceremony. All ten seniors were in the starting lineup.
UC Merced improved to 9-0 all-time against the Sea Beggars.
Up next, UC Merced will play at Westcliff University on Thursday, October 10. First touch from OC Great Park Field 18 is scheduled for 4:00pm.
