Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. (Sept. 1) -- Central Washington University senior Kelsy Villegas (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) scored her first goal of the season at the 39th minute, but three goals by the University of California, San Diego in a span of four minutes midway through the second half helped the host Tritons to a 6-1 women's soccer victory over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats fell to 0-1-1 on the season with the defeat, while UCSD, ranked 18th nationally in the NCAA Division II, won its season opener.

Villegas took a pass from sophomore Sydney Coleman (Auburn/Auburn Mountainview HS) with just over six minutes remaining in the first half and converted from 12 yards out, beating UCSD goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky just under the upper crossbar. That tally tied the game for CWU, after the Wildcats fell behind at the 30th minute on a goal off a corner kick by the Tritons' Hayley Johnson.

“We had some poor defense right off the bat,” CWU head coach Michael Farrand said, “but we did a great job bouncing back and getting a tying goal right before halftime.”

The Wildcats, who were already playing shorthanded due to injury, suffered a couple more setbacks in the midfield position in Saturday's loss, as two players left the game due to injury. As a result, CWU was forced to move players around to fill midfield positions.

“We started on our heels and had some players playing out of position,” Farrand continued. “With the injuries we have experienced, and the changes we're having to make accordingly, we're a mess physically right now.”

UC San Diego broke the 1-1 tie with a flurry of goals at the 61st, 62nd, and 65th minutes to turn a close game into a large Triton advantage. UCSD added goals at the 72nd and 86th minutes to extend the final margin to 6-1.

CWU was credited with just three shots offensively in the contest, with all of those being on net. UC San Diego had 27 shot attempts, including 12 on goal, as Wildcat sophomore goalkeeper Kayla Lipston (Federal Way/Decatur HS) made five saves.

The Wildcats, who played to a scoreless tie at California State University, San Bernardino, on Thursday, will wrap up their three-game road trip on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 4) versus Point Loma Nazarene University at 4:30 p.m.