Box Score SANTA CRUZ (9-4) – UC Santa Cruz women's soccer opened their 2021 campaign Saturday morning against Whitman College at East Remote Field. The Banana Slugs scored two goals in the first twenty-four minutes of play for their first win of the season 2-0.
 
UC Santa Cruz fielded a youthful eleven, with five freshmen and three sophomores getting the start in their first college game. In the first half, the Banana Slugs kept the pressure on the Blues for the majority of the half. The Banana Slugs had eleven first half shots while allowing their opponents to have zero. 8:54 left into the half, Fiona Nielsen scored a looping shot over the goalie after a pass from Amanda Scott to give the Banana Slugs the 1-0 lead. A little under fifteen minutes later, sophomore Ainsley Smith would capitalize on a shot off a Julia Hernandez pass for her first career goal to give the Banana Slugs a 2-0 lead.
 
In the second half, the Banana Slugs would keep the ball in their offensive zone. The Banana Slugs outshot the Blues 7-3 in the half. The final chance of the match for the Banana Slugs to score came with forty seconds left but Celine Ertekin's shot just missed the goal to the left.
 
Payton Cichowski had a match-high three shots to lead the Banana Slugs. Alyssa Diaz-Tucker only needed to make one save to get the win for the Banana Slugs. The Banana Slugs had five more corner kicks (5-0) than did the Blues and outshot the visitors 18-3.
 
The Banana Slugs will finish up the UCSC Labor Day Tournament tomorrow as they take on old rivals Chapman University at East Remote Field. Kickoff is set for 11 am.