Fullerton, CA - The Hope International University women's soccer team (0-1) couldn't hold on as they dropped their season opener 4-2 to the UC Merced Bobcats on Thursday evening at OC Great Park Field 18 in Irvine, CA.

The Bobcats came storming out of the gate as they opened the scoring just four minutes in to take a 1-0 lead. After a period of not much happening the Royals would answer as Emma Viayra found Christian Sundstrom on a long ball over the top with her finishing the play off with a beautiful goal into the top corner over the head of the onrushing keeper to tie the game 1-1 in the 15th minute. The Royals then seized the momentum as they found the go ahead goal off a bouncing ball in the box that Pressley Honeycutt struck home to put the Royals up 2-1 in the 25th minute. The Bobcats didn't give in as they tied the game in the 35th minute as the teams went into halftime deadlocked 2-2.

Both teams created several chances to start the second half but it was the Bobcats who would take over in the 67th minute as Trinidad Quiroz finished off her hat trick to make it 3-2. It was all Bobcats from there as Quiroz added a fourth in the 70th minute to make it 4-2. The Royals would finally get a chance in the 82nd minute but the Bobcats goalkeeper came up with the save as the Royals went on to fall 4-2 on opening night.