PENSACOLA, Fla. - The University of California, Merced women's soccer team saw its incredible season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to #5/#10 The College of Idaho in the NAIA Women's Soccer Quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon in Pensacola, Fla.
No. 25 UC Merced ends its season 12-4-2.
College of Idaho advances to the national semifinals with an unbeaten record of 20-0-2.
Alexis Eiguren was the difference-maker for the Yotes as she converted a penalty kick in the seventh minute and then doubled her team's advantage in the 53rd minute with a goal from the top of the box.
UC Merced's goal was an own goal in the 63rd minute, cutting the deficit in half. The own goal came on a set piece that Alondra Higareda served into the box that was then kicked in by a College of Idaho defender. Her free kick was intended for Hannah DeLay.
College of Idaho outshot UC Merced 14-6 on the day, only 3-1 on goal. Eiguren took nine shots for the Yotes. Makena Jensen and Yesenia Tijerina took two shots each for the Bobcats.
UC Merced battled for all 90 minutes and earned two set pieces in the final five minutes looking for the equalizer, including one from 25 yards out that Higareda served into the box again. However, C of I cleared the Bobcats scoring threat.
Katy Flores, Makena Jensen, and Preeya Singh played all 90 minutes for UC Merced with goalkeeper Alicia Lepe. Lepe was credited with one save.
The Bobcats defense broke up multiple Yotes crosses. Head coach Roman DuChateau's squad also defended five corner kicks.
UC Merced women's soccer's national tournament run was the best by any sport in UC Merced history. Earlier this year, the Bobcats claimed a share of the California Pacific Conference Regular Season Championship which was their first since 2016. Then, the Bobcats earned an at-large berth to the dance and knocked off #15 Embry-Riddle and #4/#6 Campbellsville to advance to the NAIA Quarterfinal Round, a place no other Bobcat squad had been before.
