LA JOLLA, Calif. - The Point Loma women's soccer season ended with a 3-2 loss to No. 6 UC San Diego in the NCAA West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 10.
 
Point Loma built a 2-0 lead on goals by Abbey Teagle in the 33rd minute and Ashlee Smith in the 35th. Teagle's goal came deep from the right side. She was able to get the shot over the goalie and down into the far corner of the net for her third goal of the season. Smith finished off her goal with a header after a pair of nice passes from Bella Diaz and Abbi Swanson.
 
UC San Diego got one goal back in the 40th minute and tied the match in the 60th on a free kick just outside the top of the box. The Tritons would take their first lead in the 80th minute when Caitlin McCarthy's shot from 20 yards out slipped through PLNU's goalie's hands and into the net. Point Loma got three shots in the final 10 minutes as they looked for the equalizer, but was thwarted by UCSD's keeper Angelica Ramos or the defense.
 
PLNU finished the match outshooting UCSD 23-15, including 12-7 on shots on goal. Julia Glaser paced Point Loma with six shots and three shots on goal. Emma Hinson had four saves for the Sea Lions and Ramos had 10 for the Tritons.
 
Team records
Point Loma (16-2-1), UC San Diego (18-2-1)

Words from coach Kiely
On first year with PLNU: "Back in January I didn't see this coming. We had a lot of work to do, and it was a storied program taking on a new coach, but they did it very well. It was baby steps along the way with baby steps here and a win here but we moved along together."
 
On the seniors: "I continue to give a lot of credit to the seniors who have given so much to this program for four years, but especially for all they have given with their leadership in my first season. There is a lot they can be proud of."
 
On the match: "I thought the group that started for us did a fantastic job today. Right after our first goal was scored I went over to them and told them that 'they did that." Our team has risen to most of the big matches this year and played well in each one, so I felt good going into this one. Obviously, I am disappointed in the result, but I could not be more proud of this team and their performance."
 
On what the regional meant to the PLNU program: "This meant a lot to our team. The women are very proud of making history, and I am very proud of them. Again this stings a little because I thought we could have made another dent in that today but I was very impressed with their play and maturity in postseason play."
 
On motivation from the loss: "I think we will 100 percent be motivated by this loss. Any time you end the season on a loss it is going to sting. This one is bittersweet. As coach we have a lot to build off but as a senior that is playing with this group for the last time it is very bitter because we had it, then we didn't. I think we are in a good spot moving forward."
 
On the support at the regionals: "I just want to say 'thank you' to all our fans, the student body, families, administration and just everyone that came to support us. We end each training session with things we are thankful for and the student-athletes were verbally thankful over and over for all the support they received. I appreciate everyone for making that happen."
 
Postgame press conference
 

Scoring summary
32:11 - PLNU GOAL: Abbey Teagle (Bella Diaz) [PLNU 1, UCSD 0]
34:05 - PLNU GOAL: Ashlee Smith (Bella Diaz, Abbi Swanson) [PLNU 2, UCSD 0]
39:29 - UCSD GOAL: Mia Bonifazi (Ashlynn Kolarik) [PLNU 2, UCSD 1]
57:19 - UCSD GOAL: Megumi Barber (unassisted) [PLNU 2, UCSD 2]
79:00 - UCSD GOAL: Caitlin McCarthy (unassisted) [UCSD 3, PLNU 2]
 
News and notes
> The 16 wins in a season are the most for PLNU since the 2011 (19) season and the second-most in school history
> This was the first loss all season for Point Loma when scoring first
> This was the first match since August 30 that PLNU allowed more than one goal in a match
> PLNU had allowed just five goals all season entering the match
> Smith scored in back-to-back regional matches after posting just one goal during the regular season
> The 12 shots on goal were the second-most for Point Loma this season
> The Sea Lions have appeared in three of the last five NCAA West Regionals
> The 2018 women's soccer team is just the third Point Loma team to ever win a regional contest (214-15 women's basketball & 2018 baseball)
 
Next match
This match completed the 2018 season for the PLNU women's soccer team.