SALISBURY, Md. – The UC Santa Cruz women's soccer team saw their season come to a close in the C2C Conference Championship by way of a 1-0 overtime loss to the Christopher Newport Captains. The Captains struck their golden goal in the 95th minute despite UC Santa Cruz controlling the offensive opportunities for the majority of the contest. UCSC outshot CNU 18-11 overall while putting six on frame to the Captains' four. Additionally, UC Santa Cruz earned eight corners to CNU's six but couldn't find the back of the net as CNU scored late to earn the win.
 
How It Happened
The familiar foes of UC Santa Cruz and Christopher Newport went to battle once again in the C2C Conference Championship, this time on the campus of Salisbury University. The Captains were quick to pressure, earning a corner just 50 seconds into the contest but the Slugs quickly countered with two corners of their own followed by a missed shot from Sadie Strout. The two teams continued to battle early in the contest with CNU recording a shot that was blocked in the 7th minute. The two teams featured physical play throughout the midfield, but the Slugs began to build their attack as Tatiana Fernandez put two shots on goal to force CNU saves in the 20th and 23rd minute. In the 25th minute, Erin Freeman nearly found the back of the net after a point blank shot got deflected and saved to keep things level at 0-0. UC Santa Cruz had the better offensive pressure in the first half with nine shots and six corners while holding CNU to three shots and three corners.
 
In the second half, Christopher Newport picked up the intensity as they took the four of the first five shots after the halftime break with Ainsley Gove making a save in the 49th minute before the team blocked an attempt in the 52nd minute. UC Santa Cruz had good looks for a seven minute stretch with Emilie Brack and Kristi Truong both seeing attempts get blocked in the 73rd minute. Both keepers were pressured in the final 15 minutes of regulation as both teams put two shots on goal but Gove and the CNU keeper both made saves to keep things tied at 0-0, sending the Championship game to overtime.
 
With a trip to NCAA's on the line, the Banana Slugs and Captains set off for overtime in golden goal format. The Slugs pressured early with a corner kick just 37 seconds into the overtime period. UCSC saw Sydney Boyd take a long shot in the 95th minute, serving as the first shot of overtime. Her attempt went high, sending CNU on the counter. The Captains managed to earn a free kick deep in the corner before heading the ball down and into the back of the net to earn the golden goal game winner in the 95th minute, handing UC Santa Cruz the 1-0 loss in the Coast-to-Coast Conference Championship.