Box Score Cougar women's soccer recorded its fourth straight victory on Sunday, going on the road to defeat U.C. Santa Cruz 3-1.
#15-ranked CSUSM improves to 8-1-5 on the season. Santa Cruz, a member of NCAA Division II, drops to 1-11-2.
Once again, the Cougars' pair of forwards, Lauren Johnson and Shelby Bush, were the story. The duo has been lights-out in the team's last four games since the mid-season break, and was at it once again on Sunday, accounting for all three goals for Coach Ron Pulvers' squad.
"Shelby and Lauren continue to be super dangerous and wreak havoc," noted Coach Pulvers.
The duo combined for their first goal in the 11th minute, as Johnson played Bush in behind the defense, and Bush beat the keeper one-on one. Just eight minutes later, Bush forced a turnover deep in the Santa Cruz end and finished the opportunity herself, putting the Cougars up 2-0.
After Santa Cruz earned a penalty kick and converted on it late in the first half to cut the deficit to 2-1, CSUSM was able to put the game away midway through the second period. In the 69th minute, Erin Mulrooney hit a cross, finding the head of Johnson, who knocked it past the keeper to make the score 3-1.
Aside from conceding the penalty kick, the Cougar defense was stout as usual. CSUSM out-shot Santa Cruz 17-1.
The Cougars will be back at home this Saturday for its homecoming game against Embry-Riddle.
