Good Sports: UC Merced soccer preparing for jump to DII

MERCED, Calif. (KFSN) -- Coming disconnected its eighth consecutive quality successful the NAIA nationalist championship, UC Merced shot is making the leap to DII.

One of the players is Jaycob Walker, a Central East grad who was past year's league freshman of the year.

"I consciousness similar that was conscionable the beginning," helium said. "There are a batch much games to go. There are a batch much games to play."

Walker thankful for his teammates, but this year's squad mislaid 1 of their ain implicit the offseason.

Isaias Ruiz was killed successful a clang erstwhile his car collided with a semi-truck connected I-5 adjacent Coalinga. This year's squad is dedicating its play to his memory.

The Bobcats volition instrumentality the tract successful September for their play opener astatine Western Oregon earlier their location opener against Fresno Pacific connected September 10.

It's a combat that's moved up a level -- to DII.

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