Menlo at UC Santa Cruz - Game Stats

Menlo Season Stats

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Menlo College couldn't have had a better start on the road Thursday afternoon, scoring within the first three minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Oaks, UC Santa Cruz scored four times after the halftime to break open a tie game as Menlo fell 5-2 in a non-conference match.

Megan Wells netted the unassisted opener for the Oaks on two minutes, 28 seconds, establishing Menlo to an early advantage. It lasted until the Banana Slugs' Kira Ticus scored the equalizer in the 21st minute from a corner kick and the score was knotted at 1-1 entering the second half.

As well as the first half went for Menlo, the second half was just as bad. UC Santa Cruz took its first lead off another corner kick in the 49th minute when Roxanne Beltran found the back of the net. Just over two minutes later Jackie Belton scored for a 3-1 Banana Slugs lead. UC Santa Cruz' final two goals also came in quick succession when Beltran scored a 67th-minute goal off a Danielle Green assist and Karli Cowman tallied the final Slugs goal on a penalty kick in the 69th minute.

Menlo put an end to the home team's onslaught in a matter of seconds, though, as Jasmine Norouzi scored 20 seconds later thanks to a Lacey Musante assist. It was 5-2 in the 69th minute as the scoring came to a close.

UC Santa Cruz was able to take 33 shots in the match compared to the Oaks' eight, but managed just nine shots on goal. Menlo had six shots on target in the match.

Paige Cruz made three saves in goal for Menlo before giving way to Natalie Schader for the final 21 minutes. Schader made one save without allowing a goal.

Menlo is now 4-7 overall and remains 2-1 in the California Pacific Conference. The Oaks play at William Jessup at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in a Cal Pac contest. UC Santa Cruz is 10-2 overall.