NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia 026 06 026 06 The University of California, Santa Cruz women’s soccer team concluded its 2026 campaign with a 0-2 loss to the University of Mary Washington in the Coast-To-Coast Conference (C2C) semifinal on November 6 in Newport News, Virginia.
The Banana Slugs finished with a 10-5-1 overall record, including a five-game winning streak during October. In the semifinal game, UC Santa Cruz took six shots with four on goal but was unable to score. University of Mary Washington scored two early goals within the first 17 minutes, capitalizing on defensive miscommunications for both scores.
Senior forward Sharon Alcocer led the team for the season with five goals and 12 points. Forward Caroline Alanis followed with four goals and nine points, while senior Kirsten Li led in assists with three. Goalkeeper Ainsley Gove finished with 55 saves and five shutouts during the year.
Ainsley Gove helped UC Santa Cruz resist several early shots in the semifinal. Senior defender Amaya Espardinez took an early shot shortly after halftime. The senior midfielder Susanaitzel Juarez-Mancera took the final shot of the season in the 78th minute. UC Santa Cruz outshot Mary Washington 5-4 in the second half but could not overcome the early deficit.
CSB Take
The UC Santa Cruz women’s soccer team ended the 2026 season with a strong winning record and solid individual performances from key seniors. Despite falling short in the C2C semifinal, the team showed resilience and competitive spirit throughout the season. Their experience in close postseason games will be valuable as the program looks to build on this foundation in future years.
Source: Original report
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