After an undefeated league season, the UC San Diego Women’s Club Soccer Team came out to their final game of the San Diego Cup and the final game of the 2016-2017 season hungry for a win against across-the-town rivals San Diego State. Though it was a Wednesday night and the team was tired from their long weekend playing in Temecula, this would be the last game in which many of the team’s beloved seniors would play. The women were ready to lay it all out on the field one last time. The game began a bit slow, with the Triton women feeling the physical pain from the past weekend and the mental pain of studying for their ongoing midterms. But after a while they settled in to their natural, quick-paced and dynamic style of play. Nearing the middle of the half, the Tritons had made a few attempts on goal, but were unable to finish. That changed when Sophomore Anais Ortiz sent in a fast transitioned throw-in from deep in State’s half. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Graduate student Miriam Bell received the long throw in front of the goalie box, scoring in the bottom right corner. The team was ecstatic. A few short minutes later, Ortiz sent another long throw into the box. After a scramble, Senior Abby Chin was able to score a second goal. The team ended the half in high spirits.
The Tritons began the second half confident, dominating the field with ease. However, State was able to gain a free kick from the center of the Triton Ladies’ half. On a long ball over the top of the Tritons’ heads, a SDSU player was able to connect and score a goal. But the UCSD women were not to be deterred. They came back from the goal stronger than ever, creating opportunity after opportunity. However, by the time the game ended it would be Chin’s goal that decided the UCSD win. The final score was UCSD 2, SDSU 1. At the referee’s final whistle, the UCSD women knew they had ended their winning season the only way they knew how: with a championship.
