SANTA CRUZ, CA – Menlo College Women's Soccer battled to a 1-1 draw against UC Santa Cruz on Thursday afternoon. The Oaks showed resilience after conceding early, with senior forward Kaylin Gonzalez netting the equalizer in the 70th minute to help Menlo secure a result on the road. They look forward to carrying their late strides into their return home for OAKtoberfest weekend on Saturday, October 18th with a PacWest match at 11am against the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific University.

Gonzalez Strikes Late

• The Oaks earned a 1-1 draw in a physical, back-and-forth match.

• Kaylin Gonzalez scored the equalizer in the 70th minute with a low shot to the right corner.

• Menlo totaled 15 shots, including 11 on goal, while UCSC recorded 16 shots and 6 on target.

• Goalkeepers Lily Roberts and Giorgia Melcore combined for 5 saves.

• UCSC's keeper made 10 saves to keep the game level.

• Menlo earned 3 corner kicks and defended 2.

• The Oaks' attack was led by Casteel, Acopan, and Dunham, who each created key chances.

• Melcore made clutch late saves to preserve the tie.

Oaks Rally Late

The first half saw back-and-forth action between the Oaks and the Banana Slugs. Menlo generated early pressure as Devyn Casteel and Abby Hratchian both tested the UC Santa Cruz keeper within the opening 20 minutes. However, the home side struck first in the 19th minute to give UCSC a 1-0 lead. Menlo continued to push forward, with Haley Dunham forcing another save late in the half, but the Oaks entered the break trailing narrowly. Head Coach's adjustments paid off early in the second half, as the Oaks dominated possession and chances on goal. 

Kaylin Gonzalez proved to be a constant threat, firing off several dangerous shots that were parried away by the UCSC goalkeeper, who tallied 10 saves on the day. Menlo's persistence paid off in the 70th minute when a mis-cleared ball inside the 18-yard box fell perfectly for Gonzalez, who blasted a right-footed strike to the bottom right corner for the equalizer. From there, Menlo kept pressing for the winner with opportunities from Kawai Acopan and Devyn Casteel, but UCSC's defense held firm. On the other end, goalkeeper Giorgia Melcore made two key late saves to preserve the tie. After 90 minutes of high-energy soccer, the match ended even at 1-1, with both teams showcasing grit and determination throughout.

Up Next

The Oaks return home on Saturday, October 18th at 11:00 a.m. to take on the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific University in a PacWest Conference matchup. Saturday's contest coincides with Menlo College's OAKtoberfest Alumni and Family Weekend, promising an exciting day of soccer and celebration on campus in Atherton.