MERCED, Calif. – The University of California, Merced women's soccer team beat Cal State Dominguez Hills 3-0 in Friday's nights CCAA opener on Bobcat Field behind two goals from Zamaya Rivera and three assists from Andrea Alvarenga Torres.
With the win, the Bobcats (4-0-1) have now won eleven straight conference openers (Cal Pac 2016-2024, CCAA 2025-Pres.) dating back to 2016 and are unbeaten through the first five matches of the season for the second straight year and fifth time in program history.
Rivera, the Bobcats first freshman since Hannah DeLay in 2022 with a multi-goal game, put the Bobcats on the board first in the 32nd minute with a header off a set piece from Alvarenga Torres. Rivera slipped behind the defense to finish off the beautiful cross from Alvarenga, who took the set piece near the touch line.
Rivera and Lexi Wright each put a shot on goal later in the half looking to double the advantage, but the score remained 1-0 at intermission.
Alexia Alva made it 2-0 in the 64th minute with her third goal of the season. Alva played give and go with Alvarenga Torres up the field and into the attacking third, getting behind the defense and firing a ground ball shot from the top of the box into the left corner of the net. With her goal, Alva is now tied for first in the CCAA with ten points. Jacqueline Tamayo also helped create the scoring opportunity as she got the first touch on a CSUDH goal kick in the center circle, playing it to Alva.
UC Merced had two goals taken off the board due to offsides before officially scoring the third goal, which came off the right foot of Rivera in the 84th minute. The goal was ruled offsides originally, but after VAR the call was overturned and the goal was confirmed.
The goal was built from the back up with Alvarenga Torres playing a through ball down the left side to Sophia Ruys. Ruys took one touch to get into the box and then sent a ground ball cross to the charging Rivera, who finished off the cross in stride from the top of the goal area. Ruys' assist was the first of her career.
Alvarenga Torres' three assist game was the Bobcats first since Zoe Juarez on October 29, 2022. The Sanger, Calif., native leads the CCAA with six assists.
Overall, the Bobcats took 14 shots and outshot CSUDH 14-6. The Bobcats put a season-high eleven on goal, their most since October 26, 2024. Rivera was responsible for five shots on frame.
Alicia Lepe was faced with a season-high five shots and made all five saves to secure her fourth shutout of the season, keeping pace atop the CCAA leaderboard. The program's all-time shutouts leader now has 23 career shutouts and is the first player in program history with at least four shutouts in three separate seasons.
Center backs Lexi Wright and Lizzie Ledesma played all 90 minutes for the third straight match. Sarai Fresquez logged the full 90 for the second time in the last three outings.
UC Merced is one of the final three unbeaten teams in the CCAA.
Looking ahead, UC Merced will host Fresno Pacific on Sunday, September 20. First touch from Bobcat Field is scheduled for 11:00am.
