SAN FRANCISCO – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team earned a 1-0 win over San Francisco State on Friday afternoon at Cox Stadium.
With the victory, the Bobcats improve to 6-3-3 overall and 3-2 in CCAA play. The Bobcats shutout was their eighth of the year, tied for the most in the conference. Alicia Lepe remains the CCAA individual leader with eight solo shutouts.
Lexi Wright scored the Bobcats game-winning goal, her first goal of the season, off a free kick in the 55th minute. Wright buried her shot upper 90 from approximately 40 yards out near the left touchline.
UC Merced outshot the Gators 13-4 on the day, including 5-0 shots on goal. Wright and Trinidad Quiroz shared match-high with three shots.
Quiroz recorded two shots in the first ten minutes from the top of the box that missed just high. She created another scoring opportunity midway through the first half with a great cross into the goal area to Elisa Garcia, but Garcia's header attempt also missed high.
The Bobcats took an 8-2 shot advantage into intermission before breaking through in the 55th minute and preserving the shutout the rest of the way.
Quiroz nearly setup a Jackie Tamayo goal to start the second half.
Following Wright's goal, Alexia Alva came close to doubling the Bobcats lead in the 70th minute but she was denied on an impressive save by the Gators goalkeeper. Alva created the shot by forcing a turnover and beating two SF State defenders to have a one-vs.-one with the keeper.
Lepe wasn't tasked with a save for UC Merced in the shutout. Friday marked the first match since November 7, 2024 where the Bobcats held an opponent without a shot on goal.
SF State's four total shots were the fewest by any Bobcat opponent this year.
UC Merced also held the Gators without a corner kick. The Bobcats earned two corners of their own.
Preeya Singh and Macy Max played all 90 minutes for UC Merced.
Up next, UC Merced will host the defending NCAA Division II National Champion and fifth-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos on Sunday, October 19. Kickoff from Bobcat Field is set for 2:00pm.
