PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The 25th-ranked University of California, Merced women's soccer team shutout No. 15 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 1-0, in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Second Round on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, the Bobcats (11-3-2) will make their first ever appearance at the NAIA Final Site. UC Merced will play in the Round of 16 in Pensacola, Fla., on December 2 or 3. The NAIA Final Site runs through December 9 at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in the Sunshine State.
Yareli Hernandez scored the game's lone goal in the 20th minute one-timing a shot from 25 yards out off an assist from Yesenia Tijerina. Hernandez's goal was her tenth of the year, ninth in the last ten contests. She was sprinting up the pitch when Tijerina laid it to her, setting her up to laser a shot into the back of the net.
Shots were even 8-8 throughout the match, but the Bobcats put seven shots on target compared to the Eagles four. Alicia Lepe earned the shutout for UC Merced, becoming just the second player in program history with at least nine shutouts in a season. Her four saves on Saturday marked the second most saves in her career.
UC Merced controlled possession early and Hernandez had a good chance to score within the first five minutes but her shot was saved by the Eagles keeper.
In the 16th minute, Diana Rico was free inside the box and tried to put her shot near post but a diving save was made. Rico, who scored in the Cal Pac Semifinal match, earned her first start of the season.
Shortly after, Embry-Riddle posed their first real threat and put a shot on the crossbar and up over the goal for a UC Merced goal kick.
Lepe was tasked with her first save in the 26th minute and the Eagles offense kept the pressure on for the rest of the half, earning two corner kicks in the next five minutes and then forcing Lepe into another save in the 39th minute. UC Merced, a top five defense in the nation, stood strong and held its 1-0 lead at halftime.
Head coach Roman DuChateau's squad created a few opportunities early in the second half, including a set piece that Kaeley Cariglio served to Macy Max for a header attempt that hit the crossbar. Hernandez and Rico tried to double the Bobcats advantage with three combined shots on target in the opening ten minutes. Tijerina took the Bobcats final shot of the match in the 61st minute.
UC Merced's defense stayed stellar in crunch time. Lepe left her line a few times to make a play, center backs Zitlali Herrera and Max broke up a few more Eagle threats, and Kaeley Cariglio had a huge clear with a minute remaining. Max cleared two threats in the final seven minutes.
Katy Flores, Herrera, Max, and Preeya Singh played all 90 minutes helping Lepe post the clean sheet.
UC Merced shutout an Embry-Riddle team who entered the day ranked top 20 in the country with 65 total goals and 21.5 shots per game. The Bobcats held the Eagles to just eight shots, only four on goal.
UC Merced's national tournament win was their second in as many years. Also of note, the Bobcats have beat a Top 15 opponent in back-to-back seasons. A year ago, the Bobcats beat the then No. 14 Embry-Riddle Eagles 2-1 in the Cal Pac Tournament Championship match.
The Bobcats will now face Campbellsville in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Round of 16 on Dec. 2 or 3.
Stay tuned to ucmercedbobcats.com for more information.
