CSUSM Stays in Postseason Hunt with 1-0 Win Over UC Merced
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team (7-5-4, 4-4-2 CCAA) kept its postseason hopes alive with a 1-0 win against UC Merced (6-7-4, 3-6-1 CCAA) on Sunday at The Cage.
GOALS
CSUSM – 76' Natalie Paulson (Assisted by Natalia Huntington)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A scoreless first half saw CSUSM lead the period in shots (5-4) and corner kicks (5-4) while UC Merced led in shots on goal (3-0).
- The Cougars finally broke up the scoreless game in the 76th minute. Off a near-sideline free kick into the box from Natalia Huntington, Natalie Paulson headed the ball into the left side of the goal from the right side to make it a 1-0 game.
QUICK KICKS
- Paulson's goal was her second of the season, while Huntington's assist was her team-leading fourth of the year.
- The win tied CSUSM with Cal State LA for sixth in the CCAA standings at 14 points.
- CSUSM ended the game with the lead in shots at 15-6, while UC Merced led in shots on goal at 5-2.
- Paulson and Addison Leite led the Cougars with three shots each.
- The Cougars controlled possession for 56% of the match and had the ball in Bobcat territory for 77% of their possessions.
- This was the first-ever meeting between CSUSM and UC Merced.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will play a crucial regular-season finale against Cal State LA on Thursday at 2 p.m. in The Cage.
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