MONMOUTH, Ore. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team earned its first win of the season with a 1-0 win over Western Oregon on Thursday afternoon to start a two-match Oregon road trip.
The Bobcats (1-0-1) shutout was their second straight, marking the second consecutive year and third time in the last four years posting back-to-back clean sheets to start the campaign.
Center back Macy Max headed in the Bobcats game-winning goal in the 73rd minute from the top of the goal area. Kaeley Cariglio was credited with the assist, sending a perfect ball into Max from the right side of the playing field. The Bobcats first goal of the season came off a short set piece, where Lexi Wright played it to Cariglio adjacent to the top of the 18-yard box.
UC Merced kept the pressure on Western Oregon and put three shots on frame plus earned two corner kicks following the goal. Overall, UC Merced was dangerous offensively in the second half outshooting WOU 9-2. The Bobcats outshot Western Oregon 11-8 across the entire match, 6-1 on target.
Wright held match-high with three shots, including putting one on target in the 77th minute. She created more scoring chances serving balls into the box. Sarai Fresquez and Trinidad Quiroz recorded two shots each.
Alicia Lepe was tasked with just one save in the shutout. With her first win of the year, she is now tied for fifth in program history with Emma Broderick with ten career wins. All ten of Lepe's win have come via the shutout. She also passed Gabby Vinco for seventh all-time in program history with 1,350 goalkeeper minutes played.
Preeya Singh, Katy Flores, Cariglio, Quiroz, and Max played the full 90 minutes with Lepe on Thursday.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will remain in Monmouth and will play Central Washington on WOU Soccer Field on Saturday, September 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00pm.
