LA JOLLA, Calif. - Knowing that no win in the California Collegiate Athletic Association South Division comes easy, fans can expect an exciting stretch run as the No. 11 UC San Diego women's soccer team closes out the regular season with four home matches, the first coming Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Cal State San Bernardino.
The Tritons, 9-3 in CCAA play, had their seven-game winning streak snapped on Monday on the road against No. 17 Cal State L.A. With the win the Golden Eagles extended their points lead in the South Division to five, while UCSD and Cal State Dominguez Hills are tied for second. Just four points behind the Tritons and Toros is CSUSB, at 7-3-2 in league action.
Head coach Brian McManus' squad has boasted a balanced attack so far in 2009, with five different Triton players totaling 10 or more points. Shelby Wong and Sarah McTigue lead the squad with six goals apiece while Anne Wethe has recorded a team-high seven assists. Only nine goals have been allowed by the Tritons' defense and sophomore goalkeeper Kristin Armstrong, who has posted four shutouts in 2009.
One of those shutouts by Armstrong came when UCSD topped CSUSB earlier this year, on Sept. 27, receiving late scores from Ellen Wilson and Anne Wethe to secure the 2-0 win. Junior Unity Beddingfield leads the Coyotes offense into Friday's match with 14 points on four goals and six assists. The Tritons hold a 25-4-4 advantage in the all-time series with CSUSB.
UCSD will continue its four-match homestand on Sunday with a game against Cal Poly Pomona set for 12 p.m. The Broncos are a bit further down in the South Division standings with a league record of 4-8. On Sept. 25 of this year UCSD picked up a win on the road at CPP as freshman Gabi Hernandez scored the only goal of the match and Armstrong recorded a career-high eight saves en route to the Tritons' 1-0 victory. UCSD leads the all-time series, 25-10-3.
During the final weekend of the CCAA regular season on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, the Tritons will host the two other squads at the top of the South Division, CSULA and CSUDH.
