Cal Poly Earns First Victory Over Big Ten Opponent in 14 Years

Thursday, August 25

Minneapolis, MN / Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium

4 P.M.

1-2-0, 0-0-0

Minnesota

0-2-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Cal Poly	0	1	1
Minnesota	0	0	0

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Cal Poly Earns First Victory Over Big Ten Opponent in 14 Years

8/25/2022 7:15:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A goal from senior forward Nikki Trucco in the 78th minute propelled Cal Poly women's soccer past Minnesota 1-0 on Thursday at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium.

A cross from freshman forward Emily Lieber found the left foot of Trucco in the box to give the Mustangs their first victory of the season.

"Being on the road … and getting the win against a team with a lot of experience is huge," Cal Poly head coach Alex Crozier said. "It speaks volumes about the character of our players."

The win over the Gophers (0-2-1) is the Mustangs' first over a Big Ten opponent since Sept. 7, 2008.

"They're a tough team to play, tough team to break down and pretty athletic … but we did a good job of dealing with that," Crozier said. "We had a couple good chances and then we finally finished the one, and that was the difference."

Sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel made her second start of the season and secured five saves to earn her fifth career shutout. Prior to Trucco's tally, Samuel made a kick save on a dangerous chance by the Gophers in the 73rd minute and stood tall against a close-range header in the 76th minute.

"She saved the ones she was supposed to, and she made a couple saves that maybe she shouldn't have," Crozier said. "She did a great job."

Sophomore midfielder McKenna Carbon posted the Mustangs' first shot on goal in the 24th minute following a Minnesota turnover forced by freshman midfielder Brennan Cole.

The Gophers outshot Cal Poly 9-3 in the first half, but were only able to put one on frame.

A minute after Trucco's goal, Lieber had a shot turned away by the Minnesota goalkeeper Megan Plaschko.

Minnesota fired three shots in the final 10 minutes, including one off the crossbar in the 82nd minute, but the Cal Poly defense and Samuel staved off the Gophers' push.

Minnesota finished with 19 shots compared to Cal Poly's nine. Defenders Emma Brown, Kylie Rojas and Aynsley Conner, who played her freshman season at Minnesota, never left the pitch.

Cal Poly (1-2) continues its five-game road trip with a visit to Sacramento State at 1 p.m. Sunday. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.