MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team defeated San Francisco State, 2-1, on Thursday afternoon in the regular-season finale. With the win, the Bobcats (10-2-5,7-2-4) clinched a berth into their first ever CCAA Tournament and secured a home CCAA Quarterfinal match as the No. 4 seed.
UC Merced will host fifth-seeded Cal State Monterey Bay on Bobcat Field on Sunday, November 1 at 12:00pm.
Thursday's win was the Bobcats third straight, tying the longest winning streak since 2024.
Andrea Alvarenga Torres added two more assists in the victory, extending her league-leading count to 14 on the year. Her assists total is the most by any CCAA player since Cal State LA's Liz Franco in 2009.
Alexia Alva found the opening goal in the fifth minute as she tapped in a groundball cross from Jocelin Roa. Roa's assist came in from the corner of the 18-yard box and Alva was at the top of the goal area to score. Alvarenga Torres also earned an assist on the play with a through ball down to Roa that pulled the Gators goalkeeper well off her line.
Alva's goal was her fifth of the year. Roa's assist was her third of the season and third in the last five games.
San Francisco State answered in the 31st minute with an indirect free kick from ten yards out and just to the left of the penalty stripe.
Alvarenga Torres nearly responded right back but her shot heading towards the left upper-90 was punched over the crossbar for one of the Bobcats five first half corner kicks. UC Merced had three corner kicks in the final five minutes of the first half. Sonya Gregoris also had a shot on goal as the Bobcats outshot SF State 8-2 in the opening 45 minutes.
UC Merced's attack was strong to the start the second half with shots on goal from Makayla Day and Roa in the first six minutes. Alvarenga also hit the post. After a few more UC Merced shots and then a save from Alicia Lepe, the Bobcats found the needed breakthrough.
Roa buried the game-winning goal in the 69th minute from eight yards out, delivering a one-timer from a creative Alvarenga cross that came in from near the endline. Roa's goal was her eleventh, finishing as the CCAA's co-leader in goals this season. She is the seventh Bobcat with 11 or more goals in a single season. Also of note, Thursday marked Roa's sixth game-winning goal which is the second most game-winning goals in a season in program history.
UC Merced finished the match outshooting San Francisco State 18-5, 7-3 on target, and held a 6-3 corner kick advantage. Roa held match-high with four shots.
Alicia Lepe made two saves for the Bobcats, both in the second half.
Sarai Fresquez, Lizzie Ledesma, Jacqueline Tamayo, Lexi Wright, Sophia Ruys, and Alvarenga Torres played the full 90 minutes.
Up next, UC Merced will host Cal State Monterey Bay in the CCAA Quarterfinal on Sunday, November 1. First touch is scheduled for 12:00pm on Bobcat Field in Merced, Calif.
