LA JOLLA, Calif. — The San Francisco State women's soccer team saw its CCAA Championships run come to an end on Friday afternoon in a 5-0 loss to No. 10 UC San Diego.
The host Tritons (16-2-1), the tenth-ranked team in NCAA Division II and the second-ranked team in the West Region behind Western Washington, will advance to the CCAA Championship match on Sunday, November 4 versus Sonoma State, who knocked off Chico State in penalty kicks. The Golden Gators (10-6-3), the No. 9 ranked team in the NCAA Division II West Region, will now have to wait to see if they receive an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships, but are on the outside looking in.
The Tritons attacked early but
Nicki Rucki made back-to-back saves in the 13th minute. UCSD attempted a pair of corner kicks before Mady Samilo connected with Mary Reilly in the 21st minute. The 2018 CCAA Offensive Player of the Year took a low cross from the right and finished into the net from close range. In the 37th minute, the Tritons doubled the lead on a corner kick. Ashlyn Kolarik placed a perfect ball into the box where Natalie Saddic, the 2018 CCAA Defensive Player of the Year, headed it in. Rucki kept the deficit at 2-0 with a couple of more saves before the half.
The Tritons offense continued to attack. Rucki recorded three more saves and the Gators fended off two more corner kicks. UCSD added a third goal in the 54th minute on Maddy Samilo goal in the 54th minute. Five minutes later, Summer Bales, who assisted on the previous goal, netted her own goal off of passes from Samilo and Reilly. Madison Messier's shot in the 63rd minute went wide, as did Ana Williams' attempt in the 70th minute. Kolarik scored a goal of her own in the 74th minute that Rucki tipped but was unable to save.
