College Roundup: UC Merced soccer star Lua become’s the program’s all-time leading scorer
UC Merced soccer star Andres Lua became the program’s all-time leading scorer with a goal during the Bobcats’ 2-0 win over Simpson University on Thursday at UC Merced.
Lua’s record-breaking 49th career goal also stood as the game-winner.
The Le Grand native entered the night tied with Cody Golbad and Artemio Contreras for the most goals in program history and set the new record on the same night the Bobcats set a new program record with a 13-match unbeaten streak.
Marco Sobrevilla earned two shutouts on the week as the Bobcats also defeated Embry-Riddle 2-0 on October 15. Kevin Capetillo scored two goals this week.
The Bobcats are the only unbeaten team in California Pacific Conference play at 6-0-4.
UC Merced Women’s Soccer (7-4-2, 6-3) — The Bobcats earned a 1-0 shutout over Simpson University on Thursday night behind a Kaeley Cariglio goal and a Jadyn Gong shutout. Cariglio scored her goal in the 30th minute.
Last Saturday, the Bobcats fell to 17th-ranked Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Senior Day. Trinidad Quiroz scored a goal for the Bobcats to snap Embry-Riddle’s 13-match shutout streak.
UC Merced Women’s Volleyball (10-11, 7-7) — The Bobcats swept Providence Christian College at home on Friday night.
Bianca Malaluan registered her third consecutive double-double to help lead the Bobcats to victory, finishing with 17 assists, eleven digs and two service aces.
Alexa Ultreras tallied a career-high ten kills to help the Bobcats record a three-set season-high 44 kills overall.
Cross Country — Elizette Ysais’ 6K program record time of 21:56.9 highlighted a strong day for the University of California, Merced women’s and men’s cross country teams on Saturday at Baylands Park as part of the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational.
Ysais bested the previous program record by 35 seconds, which had been held by Sofia Rios for the last eight years.
In the race, Ysais placed tenth overall in the field of 185 total runners for her third top ten finish in as many meets this season. Alexandra Lopez and Anjaneesa Ward also fared well and posted top five program times for the women, while Jonathan Chavez highlighted the men’s 8K race with a personal best and a top six program time of 25:33.9 in his season debut.
Merced College
Football/Men’s Soccer—Dual sport athlete Jason Mendoza (Buhach Colony) had a big week.
He kicked two field goals and an extra point in football’s 13-3 victory over San Jose City College at Stadium ‘76. Three days later, he scored his first college goal in the soccer team’s 7-0 home field victory over San Joaquin Delta.
Mendoza hustles to the football practice field every day after soccer practice to work on his PATs, kickoffs, and field goals. He is also the team’s backup punter.
Elsewhere on the gridiron, against San Jose, defensive end Jaylen Thao-Booth (Merced) rang up five solo tackles, forced two fumbles and posted nine assists, including 5.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for losses, accounting for two turnovers and 84 negative Jaguar yards.
The Blue Devils’ D-line has become dominant, yielding 13 points combined over the last three games.
Women’s Soccer—At mid-point of Central Valley Conference play, the Blue Devils’ Juliana Beltran (Buhach Colony) is in the top six in the conference with six goals and the top eleven in assists (3). Goalkeeper Sahari Lara (Livingston) leads the league in saves (69) and is in the top seven in save percentage (.683).
Men’s Water Polo—Men’s water polo has a 16-13 record despite a brutal pre-conference schedule that included contests against six of the top ten teams in the state.
Sophomore Dominic Guerra (Bullard, Fresno) continues to excel. He leads the team in goals (59) and assists (73). He has accumulated 115 assists for his career so far, second all-time behind Abraham Santana, current Blue assistant coach.
Dom Guerra moved into third place-all-time on the list of single-season assists (70) behind Isaac Santana (90), and Abraham Santana (150). Guerra currently leads the state in assists.
Women’s Water Polo—The Blue Devils are in second place in the coast conference behind the state’s number one team, West Valley.
Merced College defeated Foothill 18-3 on Wednesday behind big offensive performances from Gabi Perez (Buhach Colony), three assists and four goals; Liberty Hamilton (Golden Valley), six goals; Claudette Asenjo (El Capitan) three goals and three assists; and Alina Hodges (Reedley), three goals, four assists.
The defense against the Owls was stellar. Goalie Savonah Ward (Golden Valley) registered 15 saves. The Blue Devils are 13-7 overall.
Women’s Volleyball—Sophomore setter, Kianna Becerra, a dual sport athlete (softball) from Livingston is having an outstanding year on the volleyball court. Halfway through the CVC season, she has recorded 391 assists, 121 digs, 25 aces, and 27 kills.
