BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA — Cal St. San Marcos defeated UC Merced 1-0 on Sunday, extending its winning streak to two consecutive victories. The Cougars broke through in the 73rd minute to secure the regional contest before a limited crowd.
Brooklyn Baker scored the decisive goal in the 73rd minute, assisted by Andrew Valencia and Manny Solis. The strike proved sufficient for Cal St. San Marcos to claim three points in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.
Cal St. San Marcos dominated possession and territorial advantage throughout the match, recording 15 shot attempts compared to UC Merced's seven. The Cougars generated five shots on goal while the Bobcats managed only two. Corner kicks favored the home side 7-3, reflecting sustained pressure in the attacking third.
UC Merced's goalkeeper made four saves to keep the deficit manageable, while Cal St. San Marcos' keeper recorded two stops. Both teams received two yellow cards in an evenly-officiated contest.
The result marks Cal St. San Marcos' second consecutive win following a 1-0 victory over Cal Poly Pomona on October 31st. The Cougars improved to 6-7-3 overall with the triumph, bolstering their regional tournament positioning. UC Merced, meanwhile, snapped a two-game winning streak after victories over Chico State and Cal Poly Humboldt, falling to 3-9-3 on the season.
Cal St. San Marcos hosts Cal State LA on November 6th at 2: