LOS ANGELES — Occidental lost to UC Santa Cruz 5-0 on Sunday. Occidental finished with eight shots, including three on goal, while UC Santa Cruz put 11 of its 20 shots on frame.
Occidental fell behind early in the first half after
Caitlin Kailus sent a shot wide in the opening minute and UC Santa Cruz answered with Sharon Alcocer's goal at 2:11 for a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers held that margin through a busy stretch from 16:47 to 23:54, facing four corner kicks and three shots while
Maya Crawford finished the sequence with a save on Emily Estrada. UC Santa Cruz added to the lead at 25:59 on a Jade Jones goal assisted by Erin Freeman, and Crawford continued to keep Occidental in range with additional saves later in the half.
Occidental pushed for a response late with a corner kick at 41:58, an
Olivia Urquhart shot and Kailus' saved attempt in the final seconds, but UC Santa Cruz took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Occidental was held scoreless in the second half while UC Santa Cruz scored three times, starting with Sharon Alcocer's goal at 49:48 that made it 3-0. Kailus gave Occidental an early second-half look with a shot in the 53rd minute, and
Maya Crawford kept the margin there during a 57:09-to-67:01 stretch that included saves on Jade Jones and Lili Loney.
Samantha An also put a shot wide left during that span before UC Santa Cruz added goals from Emilie Brack at 69:57 and Caroline Alanis at 81:11. Occidental continued to create late chances, with
Keira Stephany and
Maile Fukushima each putting shots on frame that Ainsley Gove saved, but the match finished 5-0 in favor of UC Santa Cruz.
Occidental Top Performers
Maya Crawford
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- six saves
Caitlin Kailus
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- three shots, one on goal
Occidental is 4-7-1 overall and 4-2-1 in conference play. UC Santa Cruz is 7-3-1 overall. The Tigers return to SCIAC play on Wednesday, October 14th in a road match with Cal Lutheran at 7:00pm.
