|
|
1 |
2 |
F |
CPP (8-6-4, 6-6-4 CCAA)
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
UCSD (13-1-4, 12-1-3 CCAA)
|
0 |
2 |
2 |
Top Performers
|
G |
A |
Shots |
SOG |
|
CPP - Valerie Strawn |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
UCSD - Izzy Pozurama
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Goalkeepers |
Minutes |
GA |
Saves |
CPP - Emily Miller
|
90:00 |
2 |
5
|
|
UCSD - Kristin Armstrong |
90:00 |
0 |
7
|
By Erik Carr
BroncoAthletics.com
LA JOLLA, Calif. - Playing with a narrow window of opportunity to make the NCAA Tournament, the Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer team suffered a 2-0 shutout loss to No. 7 UC San Diego on Sunday in a regular season finale.
The Broncos dropped to 8-6-4 overall and 6-6-4 against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams. In the most recent West Region poll, the Broncos were ranked at No. 7. Six teams will earn bids into the NCAA West Region with the field to be announced Monday, Nov. 7.
CPP played for the purpose of prolonging its season and played that way for the entire 90 minutes.
But after a scoreless first half, the Tritons' aggression overcame the Broncos' defense when freshman midfielder Cassie Callahan in the corner crossed the ball to junior forward Gabi Hernandez, who fired the ball into the back of the net in the 50th minute. It was Hernandez's third goal and Callahan's third assist for the year.
Closing the deficit became the Broncos' objective for the rest of the game, and the Broncos upped the ante of their offensive tenacity. But for every shot a Bronco took, a Triton was there to deflect it away from the goal.
All of this preceded a stretch of time in the 82nd minute in which the ball bounced among players as if they were bumpers of a pinball machine before junior defender Hayley Johnson got control of it and passed to redshirt freshman forward Izzy Pozurama in the box, who took advantage of the confusion and put the ball into the back of the net for the insurance goal to go up, 2-0. It was Pozurama's third goal of the season and Johnson's team-high 13th assist.
The opening half was a well-balanced contest in which the Broncos outshot the Tritons, 6-5, and all saves were credited to the teams' respective goalkeepers. CPP redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Emily Miller had two saves to UCSD senior goalkeeper Kristin Armstrong's five.
With their previous match against the Tritons unforgotten, the Broncos played a game of keep-away in the opening minutes of the contest followed by an aggressive offensive throughout the remainder of the opening half and the rest of the game.
The Broncos had several chances to score in the opening frame, including one in the seventh minute when senior forward
Valerie Strawn crossed the ball over to senior forward
Justine Barclay. However, Barclay underestimated the bounce, and the ball bounced over her head.
Barclay had another chance in the 11th minute when she shot from 18 yards out and the ball ricocheted off of diving Armstrong's hand, hitting the left post and spinning out of bounds.
On a corner kick, Strawn headed the ball into the goal, which went straight into Armstrong's hands.
The Tritons also had a couple chances. One of note occurred in the 26th minute when junior defender Britnee Chesney drilled a curving shot into the clutch of Miller.
Miller, who had five saves, fell to 3-3-2 for the year. Armstrong improved to 13-1-4 for the season and recorded her 11th shutout while recording seven saves.
For the game, the Tritons outshot the Broncos, 14-10.
The Tritons (13-1-4, 12-1-3 CCAA) will play in the first round of the CCAA Tournament on Friday. Their opponent has yet to be determined.
