SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team (7-5-4, 4-4-2 CCAA) kept its postseason hopes alive with a 1-0 win against UC Merced (6-7-4, 3-6-1 CCAA) on Sunday at The Cage.
 
GOALS
CSUSM – 76' Natalie Paulson (Assisted by Natalia Huntington)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A scoreless first half saw CSUSM lead the period in shots (5-4) and corner kicks (5-4) while UC Merced led in shots on goal (3-0).
• The Cougars finally broke up the scoreless game in the 76th minute. Off a near-sideline free kick into the box from Natalia Huntington, Natalie Paulson headed the ball into the left side of the goal from the right side to make it a 1-0 game.

 
QUICK KICKS

• Paulson's goal was her second of the season, while Huntington's assist was her team-leading fourth of the year.
• The win tied CSUSM with Cal State LA for sixth in the CCAA standings at 14 points.
• CSUSM ended the game with the lead in shots at 15-6, while UC Merced led in shots on goal at 5-2.
• Paulson and Addison Leite led the Cougars with three shots each.
• The Cougars controlled possession for 56% of the match and had the ball in Bobcat territory for 77% of their possessions.
• This was the first-ever meeting between CSUSM and UC Merced.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will play a crucial regular-season finale against Cal State LA on Thursday at 2 p.m. in The Cage.