UC Merced Women’s Soccer Reaches Conference Final Four After Low Preseason Ranking

MERCED — November 7, 2026. UC Merced’s women’s soccer team has turned a low preseason ranking into a postseason breakthrough, earning a spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s final four as the Bobcats continue their 2026 run.

A major turnaround

Preseason coaches’ projections placed UC Merced 10th in the conference. Head coach Roman DuChateau and the players instead assembled a season that put the team among the leading contenders. Senior forward Jocelin Roa and junior midfielder Andrea Alvarenga Torres described a squad motivated by the opportunity to challenge expectations.

Building the program

DuChateau took charge in 2022, guiding the team to an NAIA quarterfinal in a prior season before the program transitioned to NCAA Division II in 2025. He has since become the winningest coach in the program’s history, according to ABC30’s latest profile.

What comes next

UC Merced is seeking a berth in the national tournament. The team expected to learn more when the brackets are released Monday. Reaching the conference final four does not itself guarantee a national championship appearance, and opponents, scores and selections should be checked against official athletics updates.

Source: ABC30, November 7, 2026.

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