SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – The No. 15 Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team increased its winning streak to five games with a 1-0 victory over UC Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon.

Natalie Lara's flick with the outside of her right boot provided the difference early in the second half.

The Cougars (7-2-1) increased their winning streak to five with their third consecutive win in shutout fashion. The one-goal victory wrapped up a successful road trip to Northern California; CSUSM topped Mills College 9-0 on Saturday in Oakland.

"It was a hard game today, UC Santa Cruz is a good team and we had to battle all the way," said CSUSM head coach Bobby Renneisen. "It was a good win and now I think we have a lot of confidence going into the last five games of our season."

CSUSM has five more games remaining in the regular season, all of which will be played at home. The Cougars are in a reasonable position to earn the top-seed for the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Championship in November.

Lara, who was playing right midfield, slashed across the face of goal. On the left side of the six-yard-box, she hit the bouncing ball with the outside of her laces, up and over the keeper for her first goal of the season.

UC Santa Cruz dropped to 5-6-1 with the loss.

The Cougars start their five-match home stand to end the regular season on Thursday, October 16 against Marymount (Calif.).