Women’s soccer falls after nine game winning streak

Darren Feeney / Staff Writer / The USD Vista

The end of one streak calls for the start of another after the USD women’s soccer team suffered their first loss in nearly six weeks.

The No. 3 nationally ranked University of California Los Angeles (9-0-2) proved to be too much in a 3-0 shutout, extending the nation’s longest home win streak at Drake Stadium to 42 in a row.

Toreros senior goalkeeper Brittany Cameron had an action-packed afternoon between the posts, recording eight saves as the Bruins offense unleashed 20 shots on goal to the Toreros nine, including a save on a penalty kick in the first half.

After posting her eleventh consecutive scoreless half of play, it took just 24 seconds in the second half for UCLA midfielder Kristina Larson to find nylon on a short range shot inside the box, ending Cameron’s streak of not allowing a single goal in her last 514 minutes of play.

UCLA forward Christina Dimartino took it upon herself to add another goal in the 61st minute as she dribbled across the top of the box and lofted a shot over Cameron in the top-right corner.

UCLA then put the game out of reach in the 82nd minute as Lauren Chaney, who has a team-best 15 points with four goals and five assists, found Lauren Wilmoth who let off a shot from the far right into the upper-left corner of the goal.

UCLA redshirt senior goalkeeper Ashley Thompson continued to anchor the Bruins defense as she improves her impressive .09 goals-against-average.

Thompson has conceded one goal the entire season and posted three consecutive shutouts. UCLA has now outscored its competition 26-1 this season and the win improves UCLA to a 14-1-3 overall record against the Toreros.

USD (7-3-2) entered the match ranked 19th in the latest NSCAA top-25 poll.

While a win over a top-five school would have been significant for the USD program, there is still plenty to look forward to and build upon as they enter the second half of their season.

“UCLA is a tough opponent and a very talented team,” senior striker Jen Mello said, “We always want to come away with a win, but a loss like this one will make us stronger and give us experience for the rest of our season.”

The Toreros will head up north this week to face Long Beach State (8-2-3) Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. and a key conference battle with Santa Clara University (3-8-2) Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. Santa Clara and San Diego were tabbed to finish second and third respectively in the West Coast Conference coaches poll.