ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team fell 1-0 to Westcliff in the California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship game on Saturday night at Soka Soccer Stadium.
Westcliff receives the Cal Pac's automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships with an unbeaten record of 12-0-2 and the tournament trophy. The Bobcats (10-3-2), ranked No. 25 in the NAIA, will have to wait and see if they receive an at-large berth. The bracket will be announced on Saturday, November 16.
UC Merced outshot Westcliff 14-4, including 9-3 on target. Westcliff scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute when the Cal Pac Player of the Year Jysabella Tolentino connected with Cal Pac Freshman of the Year Jordyn Gather. Tolentino sent a through ball 35 yards out into the far corner of the goal area where Gather one-timed her shot into the back of the net.
Kaeley Cariglio held match-high with four shots for UC Merced, three on goal. Hannah DeLay and Yesenia Tijerina put two shots on frame.
The two teams went more than ten minutes without a shot until Kaeley Cariglio got a clean shot off in the 12th minute from 30 yards out. Quality chances were hard to come by overall and all five of the Bobcats first half shots came from at least 25 yards out. The Bobcats biggest threat was when Alondra Higareda took a bid off a free kick that was saved, but not cleanly, by the Warriors keeper. However, the Warrior between the posts was able to recover in time before a Bobcat was there for a rebound.
Defensively, UC Merced held Westcliff without a shot until the 40th minute. That shot, and a Warrior shot just before the first half buzzer, were taken from distance and saved by Alicia Lepe.
The Bobcats applied a lot of pressure early in the second half and opened up with one of their best opportunities of the night just 90 seconds into the stanza. Makena Jensen sent the ball into the box on a throw-in, that led to a Yesenia Tijerina shot that appeared to go off the hand of a Warrior defender, but there was no call. The ball came back to Tijerina and her next shot was knocked down by the keeper, she then followed her shot and put the ball into the back of the net but the referee called a foul against the Bobcats waving off the goal.
Shortly after, the Bobcats were fouled out of the box near the endline. The set piece resulted in a header attempt from Elisa Garcia that missed wide.
DeLay attempted to blast a shot past the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year, Warriors keeper Kayli Cokley, in the 60th minute but her shot from 20 yards out was saved.
Tijerina set up another scoring opportunity two minutes later for Yareli Hernandez, however the Cal Pac Offensive Player of the Year's attempt to chip it over the keeper who was pulled off her line missed left.
The Bobcats outshot Westcliff 7-0 through the first 35 minutes of the second half. Westcliff generated their first shot of the second half in the 81st minute, missing left.
However, their next shot eight minutes later turned into the game-winning goal from Gather.
The Bobcats fought hard for an equalizer, earning three set pieces in the final two minutes but came up empty on their attempts. The Bobcats took two shots directly off of free kicks, including one from Tijerina that was punched over the crossbar by Cokley. UC Merced was then called for a foul on the ensuing corner on what ended up being their final chance of the night.
The Bobcats were shutout for just the third time this season.
Flores, Zitlali Herrera, Hernandez, Macy Max, and Tijerina played the entirety of the contest for head coach Roman DuChateau.
The Bobcats Cal Pac Championship match was their second in as many years and sixth in the last eight years.
UC Merced will now await their national tournament fate. The Bobcats will learn if they receive an at-large bid during the NAIA selection show scheduled to air on Saturday, November 16 at 11:00am PST.
