UC Merced women's soccer upsets top seed, then falls in CCAA final

UC Merced women’s soccer reached the CCAA Tournament championship game in its first year of postseason eligibility, then lost 3-1 to Cal State LA on Saturday in Pomona.

Two days earlier, the fourth-seeded Bobcats beat top-seeded and 12th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona 1-0 on its home field to get there.

At a glance

• Semifinal, Thursday: UC Merced 1, No. 12 Cal Poly Pomona 0
• Final, Saturday: Cal State LA 3, UC Merced 1
• Record: UC Merced is 12-3-5 overall
• Next: The NCAA Division II selection show is Monday at 4 p.m. First-round games are Friday, Nov. 13.

The upset at Pomona

Jocelin Roa scored the only goal Thursday at 64:23, on an assist from Sophia Ruys, according to the box score. It was Roa’s 13th goal of the season, and her second straight game-winner in the tournament after her overtime goal against Cal State Monterey Bay on Nov. 1.

Cal Poly Pomona outshot UC Merced 13-4, but goalkeeper Alicia Lepe made seven saves for her 11th shutout of the season.

It was UC Merced’s first win over a Top 25 team since the program moved to NCAA Division II, and it ended Cal Poly Pomona’s 20-match unbeaten streak at home, the university said.

The final

UC Merced took the lead in the eighth minute Saturday when freshman Zamaya Rivera scored from 25 yards out.

Cal State LA tied it at 35:18 on a set piece by Carisia Raygoza. Early in the second half, UC Merced’s Jackie Tamayo was sent off for a handball on the goal line, and Celine Gehrig converted the penalty kick at 51:09 to put LA ahead, according to the box score and UC Merced’s recap. Playing a player down, the Bobcats gave up a third goal to Briana Chagolla at 59:21.

Cal State LA outshot UC Merced 14-7. Lepe made six saves, giving her 73 for the season, the third most in program history, the university said.

Waiting on the NCAA tournament

The CCAA champion gets an automatic spot in the NCAA tournament, so UC Merced now needs an at-large bid. As of Nov. 7, the Bobcats ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II West Region, and seven teams from the region will make the field, according to the university.

The field will be announced in the NCAA selection show Monday at 4 p.m.

Sources: UC Merced Athletics: semifinal recap and box score, championship recap and box score, 2026 schedule.