Sunday, October 29
San Luis Obispo, CA
2 P.M.
9-7-3, 6-3-1
2
vs
1
No. 6 Hawai'i
5-8-3, 4-5-1
1
2
F
Hawaii
0
1
1
Cal Poly
2
0
2
Team Stats
HAWAII
CP
Goals
1
2
Shots
9
14
Shots on Goal
6
7
Saves
5
3
Corners
4
8
Fouls
8
11
Scoring Plays
Emily Lieber (1)
GOAL by CP Lieber, Emily.
00:39
Peja Balanon (2)
Assisted By: Sophia Minnite
GOAL by CP Balanon, Peja Assist by Minnite, Sophia.
38:26
Mia Foster (6)
Assisted By: Jacey Jicha
GOAL by HAWAII Foster, Mia Assist by Jicha, Jacey.
66:35
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F/MF
/ Women's SoccerF
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Eyasu Betwos
Mustangs Down Hawai'i, Advance to Big West Semifinals
10/29/2023 7:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Sophomore Emily Lieber scored the fourth quickest goal to open a match in program history and junior Peja Balanon buried the game-winning goal as third-seeded Cal Poly women's soccer took down sixth-seeded Hawai'i 2-1 in the first round of the Big West Championship on Sunday at Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital.
With the victory, the Mustangs (9-7-3) secured a spot in the semifinals of the conference tournament and will face No. 2 seed UC Davis (10-6-2) at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium with the winner advancing to the Big West Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 5.
It was Cal Poly's second win over the Rainbow Wahine in a week. Last Sunday, the Mustangs secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at Hawai'i, scoring two goals 32 seconds apart in the 85th minute.
"Hawai'i is a very difficult opponent to play," head coach Alex Crozier said after the match, "and we had a tight game with them a week ago, and we knew it was going to be the same coming in, but we got a goal early which helped … I'm very happy about the win and we're looking forward to advancing."
Lieber said before the match she told teammates that she felt like she was going to score during Sunday's Big West showdown and she delivered, scoring just 39 seconds into the match.
An attempted cross by freshman Annika Smith in front of the Hawai'i goal took a deflection off a defender and found its way to Lieber, who blasted her first goal of the season to the back of the net with her left foot. It marked the 15th different goal scorer of the season for the Mustangs.
After the blistering start, Cal Poly continued peppering the Rainbow Wahine net with shots as seniors McKenna Carbon and Olivia Ortiz, junior Emily Nedom and sophomore Brennan Cole all registered shots in the first 15 minutes of action.
In the 31st minute, the Mustangs had a beautiful goal off a header from sophomore Jessie Halladay called back due to offsides.
The Mustangs aggressiveness and consistent pressure finally paid off in the 39th minute when they doubled their lead. Redshirt freshman Sophia Minnite sent a dangerous cross from the left wing into the box that junior Peja Balanon was able to get a foot on and send to the back of the Hawai'i net. It was Balanon's second goal of the season and the fifth of her career. For Minnite, it was her second career assist.
Cal Poly carried a 2-0 lead and 11-2 shot advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Mustangs did their best to fend off a hard-charging Hawai'i side that was desperate for a goal. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel made a strong save in the 63rd minute and then in the 66th minute Ortiz cleared a ball off the goal line that was headed for the back of the Cal Poly net.
However, in the 67th minute the Rainbow Wahine were able to break through, scoring off a set piece to cut the Mustangs' lead in half.
Carbon nearly sealed the match in the 80th minute sending a ball from well outside the box off the crossbar, and in the 85th minute freshman defender Siena Urzua recorded her first collegiate shot on goal.
The Cal Poly backline turned in a stellar effort down the stretch to secure the Mustangs' first victory in the opening round of the Big West Championship.
The Mustangs finished with a 14-9 shot advantage, and Samuel made three saves. Carbon had a team-high five shots.
Cal Poly will be looking for redemption when they face off against UC Davis in the Big West semifinals. During the regular season, the Mustangs fell to the Aggies 1-0 in Davis on Oct. 19.
With the victory, the Mustangs (9-7-3) secured a spot in the semifinals of the conference tournament and will face No. 2 seed UC Davis (10-6-2) at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium with the winner advancing to the Big West Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 5.
It was Cal Poly's second win over the Rainbow Wahine in a week. Last Sunday, the Mustangs secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at Hawai'i, scoring two goals 32 seconds apart in the 85th minute.
"Hawai'i is a very difficult opponent to play," head coach Alex Crozier said after the match, "and we had a tight game with them a week ago, and we knew it was going to be the same coming in, but we got a goal early which helped … I'm very happy about the win and we're looking forward to advancing."
Lieber said before the match she told teammates that she felt like she was going to score during Sunday's Big West showdown and she delivered, scoring just 39 seconds into the match.
An attempted cross by freshman Annika Smith in front of the Hawai'i goal took a deflection off a defender and found its way to Lieber, who blasted her first goal of the season to the back of the net with her left foot. It marked the 15th different goal scorer of the season for the Mustangs.
After the blistering start, Cal Poly continued peppering the Rainbow Wahine net with shots as seniors McKenna Carbon and Olivia Ortiz, junior Emily Nedom and sophomore Brennan Cole all registered shots in the first 15 minutes of action.
In the 31st minute, the Mustangs had a beautiful goal off a header from sophomore Jessie Halladay called back due to offsides.
The Mustangs aggressiveness and consistent pressure finally paid off in the 39th minute when they doubled their lead. Redshirt freshman Sophia Minnite sent a dangerous cross from the left wing into the box that junior Peja Balanon was able to get a foot on and send to the back of the Hawai'i net. It was Balanon's second goal of the season and the fifth of her career. For Minnite, it was her second career assist.
Cal Poly carried a 2-0 lead and 11-2 shot advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Mustangs did their best to fend off a hard-charging Hawai'i side that was desperate for a goal. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel made a strong save in the 63rd minute and then in the 66th minute Ortiz cleared a ball off the goal line that was headed for the back of the Cal Poly net.
However, in the 67th minute the Rainbow Wahine were able to break through, scoring off a set piece to cut the Mustangs' lead in half.
Carbon nearly sealed the match in the 80th minute sending a ball from well outside the box off the crossbar, and in the 85th minute freshman defender Siena Urzua recorded her first collegiate shot on goal.
The Cal Poly backline turned in a stellar effort down the stretch to secure the Mustangs' first victory in the opening round of the Big West Championship.
The Mustangs finished with a 14-9 shot advantage, and Samuel made three saves. Carbon had a team-high five shots.
Cal Poly will be looking for redemption when they face off against UC Davis in the Big West semifinals. During the regular season, the Mustangs fell to the Aggies 1-0 in Davis on Oct. 19.
A Sit-down Interview with New Cal Poly Women's Soccer Head Coach Bernardo Silva
Tuesday, January 21
The Origin Story of Cal Poly Women's Soccer and Alex Crozier
Thursday, December 19
Thank You, Coach Crozier
Wednesday, October 30
Cal Poly vs. Hawai'i, Women's Soccer Highlights -- Oct. 24th, 2024
Friday, October 25
