3-4-2, 1-0-0
Portland
6-1-2, 0-0-0
Team Stats
Nedya Sawan (3)
Assisted By: MacKenzie Frimpong-Ellertson , Camille Ashe
GOAL by POR Sawan, Nedya Assist by Frimpong-Ellertson, MacKenzie and Ashe, Camille.
02:17
Sophia Mattice (1)
Assisted By: Cally Togiai
GOAL by POR Mattice, Sophia Assist by Togiai, Cally.
11:37
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Mustangs Fall to Portland in Nonconference Finale
9/23/2023 11:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
PORTLAND, Ore. — In its final nonconference match of the season, Cal Poly women's soccer fell to Portland, one of the best defensive teams in the country, 2-0 on Saturday night at Merlo Field.
The Pilots (6-1-2) scored both of their goals in the first 12 minutes of the match.
The Mustangs had a strong second half and nearly broke through for a goal. Freshman Bailey Bracha (54th minute) and graduate student Whitney Wiley (69th minute) both fired dangerous shots on goal, and in the 72nd minute sophomore Emily Lieber earned the best opportunity of the night for the Mustangs. Lieber flew up the right side of the field, created some separation from her defender and blasted a shot just wide of the left post.
Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel helped keep Cal Poly within striking distance, making several key stops in the second half. In the 66th minute, Samuel came off her line to silence a scoring chance for the Pilots and in the 81st minute she made an incredible save following a Portland corner kick. The 2022 Big West Goalkeeper of the Year made three saves in the match.
Junior Emma Brown, sophomores Brennan Cole and Camryn Penn and true freshman Siena Urzua never stepped off the pitch, playing all 90 minutes. For Urzua, it was her third straight start at center back.
Portland, who lost to NCAA semifinalist and No. 1 overall seed Alabama in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, entered Saturday ranked third in the nation in goals against average and has only surrendered two goals all season long.
Cal Poly (3-4-2) returns to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital this week to host Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. on Thursday and UC Riverside at noon next Sunday.
