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POMONA, Calif. - After scoring the game-winner in overtime in the quarterfinals, Jocelin Roa played the hero once again for the Bobcats in the semifinals as she scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute to lead the No. 4 seed, UC Merced, to an upset win over No.1 seed Cal Poly Pomona in the 2026 CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament presented by FloCollege.
 
UC Merced brought the energy from the opening kick, pushing up on the Broncos and refusing to let them control the match, even with CPP holding a 7-2 edge in shots. The Bobcats settled in defensively, and the match went to halftime tied 0-0.
 
Cal Poly Pomona had its best opportunity early in the second half when they put two shots on goal in a one-minute span. But UCM's Alicia Lepe was up for the challenge, turning away both attempts. She finished the game with seven saves, her second-highest total of the season.
 
The break for Bobcats would come in the 65th minute when Lizzie Ledesma sent a ball up the left sideline from her defender position. The ball skipped under the leg of a waiting Bronco and found Sophia Ruys running up the sideline. She cut into the middle of the field, drawing a pair of defenders and leaving Roa open at the top of the box. She made one touch and sent a low shot past the keeper's outstretched arm and into the bottom-left corner of the net. It was Roa's conference-leading 13th goal of the season.
 
With the lead in hand, the Bobcats' defense took over. UCM milked the clock at every opportunity and limited CPP to just one shot on goal in the final 25 minutes to secure the win.
 
This is the first year UC Merced has been eligible for the CCAA Tournament after transitioning to Division II from the NAIA. It has now earned two postseason wins and leads the CCAA with 12 victories.
 
The Bobcats will be playing for their first CCAA Tournament Championship in any sport this Saturday at 2 p.m. when they face the winner of No. 2 Cal State LA and No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino.