LA JOLLA, Calif. - As the strength of the league schedule escalates, the No. 11 UC San Diego women's soccer team aims to extend its six-game winning streak on its final regular season road trip featuring a match Friday at Cal State Dominguez Hills and another on Monday at No. 17 Cal State L.A.
The Tritons' postseason positioning is in their own hands with four of their final six regular season games coming against CSUDH and CSULA, the other two top-ranking squads in the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division. Each of the three teams involved have eight conference wins.
So far through CCAA play, the Tritons' attack is ranked second with 19 goals while the squad's defense has allowed the fewest number of scores (5) in the conference. Sophomore goalkeeper Kristin Armstrong has played a large role in keeping opponents at bay with 38 saves in 2009 while the defenders in front of her - Sara Spaventa, Hayley Johnson and Ellen Wilson - have kept the pressure to a minimum.
On Friday the Toros will host the Tritons in Carson at 7 p.m. CSUDH holds a slightly better record on the road as compared to at home in 2009 but in any event, sophomore forward Jessica Murphy has continued to be a force at the top of her squad's formation. A member of the All-CCAA First Team in 2008, Murphy has tallied seven scores and three assists this season.
Historically the Tritons are 15-15-3 against the Toros, with the .500 winning percentage actually being the lowest for UCSD in an all-time series against a CCAA opponent. The Tritons have won the previous three matches between the two squads though, including a 3-1 victory to capture the 2008 CCAA Championship behind first half scores from sophomores Anne Wethe and Courtney Capobianco.
CSULA, one of the most improved CCAA teams this season, will host UCSD on Monday at 7 p.m. After being picked to finish fifth in the conference's South Division, the Golden Eagles have remained atop the standings through much of this season. With four players holding double digits in points, junior midfielder Liz Franco leads the way with seven goals and 13 assists. The Tritons lead the all-time series with the Golden Eagles, 11-4-1, including a 2-0 victory in Los Angeles last season that featured a game-winner from junior Remy Hitt assisted by sophomore Sarah McTigue.
UCSD will finish off its CCAA regular season with home matches against Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, CSULA and CSUDH.
