Box Score Box Score

On an afternoon in which the Cougars were not as technically sound as their usual selves, CSUSM pounced on an early opportunity and gutted out a victory against the tenacious UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. The match was tightly contested throughout, and scoring chances were few, but a couple Cougars were able to step up big in important moments to secure the win.

Forward Shelby Bush wreaked havoc on the Banana Slug defense all afternoon, but it was her first scoring chance that made the difference Thursday. In the 10th minute, midfielder Arielle Cohen played a ball on the ground from the right side that Bush received from about 6 yards out, took a dribble and then unleashed a shot that deflected off a Santa Cruz defender and skipped underneath the keeper to put the Cougars up one-nothing.

The Banana Slugs had a few good chances early on as well, but All-American goalkeeper Kaycee Gunion stoned a couple of strong shots from the left side to keep the Banana Slugs off the board. Gunion recorded three saves on the match, all in the first half, and led the Cougars to their 10^th shutout in 12 games this season.

Bush also had a dynamic chance in the second half, drilling a shot from the left side that Santa Cruz keeper Monica Chazen punched out from the upper corner of the net to force a corner kick. The Cougars had 5 shots on goal for the match, 3 of which came from Bush. The Banana Slugs had three shots on net as well.

The biggest threat of the afternoon for the Banana Slugs came on a through ball that got past the Cougar defense. Defender Shannon Cox fouled the charging opposing forward to prevent a breakaway chance and received a yellow card, despite appeals for a red. Santa Cruz was unable to make anything of the ensuing free kick.

With the victory, the #7 Cougars are now 10-1-1. UC Santa Cruz drops to 6-4-1. CSUSM's final home game will be Friday October 28^th at 3:00pm against Westminster College (UT).