ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – The 25th-ranked and top-seeded University of California, Merced women's soccer team used two first half goals and blanked Simpson to punch its ticket to its second consecutive California Pacific Conference Tournament Championship match, winning 2-0 on Thursday night in the semifinals.
The Bobcats (10-2-2) postseason shutout was their fourth in the DuChateau era and overall it was the Bobcats eleventh of the 2024 campaign. UC Merced outshot Simpson 14-2, including 10-0 on frame.
Also of note, UC Merced advances past its first round in the conference tournament for the eighth consecutive year. The Bobcats will now play for the tournament trophy on Saturday, November 9 against second-seeded Westcliff in Aliso Viejo. Both Westcliff and the Bobcats own a share of the regular season title.
Cal Pac Offensive Player of the Year Yareli Hernandez gave the Bobcats the lead with the eventual game-winning goal scoring on a free kick from 19 yards out. She was fouled right on top of the box and beat the diving keeper to her left. Hernandez's goal was her fourth goal in as many games. It marked her first career postseason goal.
The Bobcats continued to control possession and broke through again in the 43rd minute when Diana Rico headed home a cross from Vivianna Bravo near post. Bravo's assist makes her the first UC Merced freshman with a goal contribution in a semifinal match or later since Jocelyne Garcia in the 2019 title game.
UC Merced led 2-0 at halftime without allowing a Red Hawk shot.
Katy Flores registered the Bobcats first shot of the second half eight minutes in from 25 yards out that was saved by the keeper. Kaeley Cariglio was also active early in the second half taking a couple shots and a corner kick.
Head coach Roman DuChateau's team remained dangerous earning two more corner kicks in the 73rd and 75th minute. Both shots directly off the corner came from Macy Max. Her first shot was a header that was blocked inside the goal area, while her second shot off her right foot was saved.
Giulia Salemme took two shots down the stretch as the Bobcats continued to dominate possession. The only Red Hawk shots came in the 67th and 76th minute, both missed high.
Cariglio held match-high with four shots.
Alicia Lepe posted the shutout for UC Merced, her eighth of the year. She joins just Maggie Morales (2015) and Jadyn Gong (2023) as the only Bobcats to record eight or more shutouts in a season.
Flores, Zitlali Herrera, and Max logged all 90 minutes helping be the wall for Lepe.
The Bobcats, who are 15-2 all-time against Simpson, had never met the Red Hawks in the postseason until now.
UC Merced and Westcliff have also never played a head-to-head postseason match.
The two regular season co-champs, UC Merced and Westcliff, will face off in the Cal Pac Tournament Championship match on Saturday, November 9. Kickoff is set for 6:00pm at Soka Soccer Stadium in Aliso Viejo, Calif.
