San Diego Athletics

SAN DIEGO — Maquena O'Callaghan scored all three goals for San Diego on Senior Day, and the Toreros came from behind twice to beat Denver 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium for their first WCC win of the season.

The Toreros started all seven of their seniors against Denver in the programs' first meeting as conference opponents. O'Callaghan came into the day with one goal this season and left with a team-leading four. Fellow seniors Tamia Graham and Ruby Shoots helped set up the game-winner, and goalkeeper Ilise Medrano kept Denver scoreless in the second half.

Denver scored first, in the ninth minute, and San Diego pulled even in the 23rd. Hannah Faklaris sent the ball down the left flank to Ella Callanan, who carried it toward the end line and crossed to the middle. O'Callaghan settled it with a couple of touches and fired a right-footed shot into the right side of the net.

Down 2-1 at the break after a Denver penalty kick in the 31st minute, the Toreros won the second half 2-0 and put six shots on target to the Pioneers' three. O'Callaghan returned to the field in the 65th minute and tied the match from the penalty spot in the 72nd. Faklaris drew the foul in the box after a Callanan cross from the left, and O'Callaghan put her right-footed kick into the bottom right corner.

Graham's free kick from the left started the winning sequence in the 78th minute. Faklaris headed it on target, and Shoots followed from close range. The Denver goalkeeper stopped both before O'Callaghan tapped the rebound into an empty net. 

All three of Medrano's second-half saves came after the go-ahead goal, the last in the 86th minute, and the senior finished with four saves.

"We went behind twice, responded both times and then found a way to win it," head coach Greg LaPorte said. "At 1-0 and again at 2-1, it would have been easy to let frustration take over, especially given our recent results. But what impressed me most was the mentality of our entire team. Instead, we kept fighting, kept believing and found a way to get the job done.

"I couldn't be happier for Maquena and our seniors. What a performance from Maquena O'Callaghan on Senior Day. Three goals in a game of this magnitude is special. They've given so much to this program, and to see them rewarded with a comeback win like this is something they'll remember for a long time."

O'Callaghan put all four of her shots on target in 61 minutes and is 2-for-2 on penalty kicks this season. Faklaris figured in all three goals, and Callanan had a hand in the first two.

San Diego's 10 shots on goal were a season high, and its three goals tied its season best from a 3-1 win at UC Irvine on Sept. 10. 

UP NEXT
San Diego visits Saint Mary's on Saturday, Oct. 17, for a 3 p.m. match at Saint Mary's Stadium in Moraga, Calif. The match streams on ESPN+.