Sunday, September 3
Berkeley, CA / Edwards Stadium
4 P.M.
1-2-1, 0-0-0
0
at
2
Cal
2-2-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Cal Poly
0
0
0
California
1
1
2
Team Stats
CPU
CAL
Goals
0
2
Shots
6
10
Shots on Goal
3
4
Saves
1
3
Corners
1
7
Fouls
6
8
Scoring Plays
Karlie Lema (3)
GOAL by CAL Lema, Karlie.
14:32
Karlie Lema (3)
GOAL by CAL Lema, Karlie.
71:07
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerMF
/ Women's Soccer
D/MF
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's SoccerMF/F
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Juventino Ortiz
Mustangs Battle, Fall at Cal
9/3/2023 7:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BERKELEY, Calif. — Despite a strong effort, Cal Poly women's soccer came up short in a hard-fought match at Cal on Sunday, falling 2-0.
The Mustangs (1-2-1) made the Golden Bears (2-2-0) earn every inch of grass and limited their chances throughout. Unfortunately, Cal, who qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year and finished fourth in the Pac-12, capitalized on its few opportunities and Cal Poly just couldn't find that finishing touch.
"We're moving in the right direction, we just didn't get the result that verifies that," head coach Alex Crozier said after the match.
The match got off to a blistering start as sophomore defender Camryn Penn made an incredible play to keep the Golden Bears off the board early. In the fourth minute, Cal played a corner kick into the box and Malia McMahon steered a header on goal that appeared to be heading toward the back of net. Fortunately for the Mustangs, Penn was standing right on the goal line and she rose up and headed the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and out of play to clear the danger.
The Golden Bears then struck in the 15th minute off a goal from Karlie Lema. However, that score didn't slow the Mustangs down as just over a minute sophomore Emily Lieber (pictured above) played a cross into the box and freshman Annika Smith fired her first collegiate shot on goal to force a Cal save.
Freshman Sophia Moness and graduate student Whitney Wiley also blasted shots for the Mustangs in the opening half that were just off target.
In the second half, Cal Poly stepped up its level of play and maintained a firm grip on the run of play.
"Second half I thought we did a better job of just playing, connecting our passes and moving the ball," Crozier said. "We did create some chances and we were a little more assertive, so I was happy with that."
Less than two minutes into the final half, Cal Poly earned a free kick from about 25 yards out. Sophomore Brennan Cole stepped up and fired a shot toward the bottom right post that Cal goalkeeper Teagan Wy had to dive for to keep out of the net.
In the 64th minute, junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel came off her line to make a fantastic kick save on Cal's Velize King to keep the match at 1-0.
Lema broke free for her second goal in the 72nd minute, but the Mustangs continued to push forward for the remainder of the match and kept the Golden Bears on their heels.
Cal outshot the Mustangs 10-6, with each team firing three on frame. The Golden Bears' attack can be difficult to contain, but the Cal Poly backline found a way to do just that for a majority of the match, blocking shots and intercepting a number of crosses.
"They have forwards that are a handful, so it just takes one little thing here or there," Crozier said, "… but we dealt with them pretty well I thought."
Junior defender Emma Brown played all 90 minutes for the 11th consecutive match.
The Mustangs continue their grueling nonconference schedule this upcoming week, returning home to face a pair of ranked teams. First up is No. 24 Gonzaga (5-1-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday, then the Mustangs welcome No. 8 Santa Clara (4-0-0) to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital on Sunday, Sept. 10, for a noon match.
The Mustangs (1-2-1) made the Golden Bears (2-2-0) earn every inch of grass and limited their chances throughout. Unfortunately, Cal, who qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year and finished fourth in the Pac-12, capitalized on its few opportunities and Cal Poly just couldn't find that finishing touch.
"We're moving in the right direction, we just didn't get the result that verifies that," head coach Alex Crozier said after the match.
The match got off to a blistering start as sophomore defender Camryn Penn made an incredible play to keep the Golden Bears off the board early. In the fourth minute, Cal played a corner kick into the box and Malia McMahon steered a header on goal that appeared to be heading toward the back of net. Fortunately for the Mustangs, Penn was standing right on the goal line and she rose up and headed the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and out of play to clear the danger.
4' | INCREDIBLE CAM!! Camryn Penn heads a ball off the goal line to keep the match here in Berkeley scoreless early! #RideHigh???? pic.twitter.com/sggnfUQ81o
— Cal Poly Women's Soccer (@CPWomensSoccer) September 3, 2023
The Golden Bears then struck in the 15th minute off a goal from Karlie Lema. However, that score didn't slow the Mustangs down as just over a minute sophomore Emily Lieber (pictured above) played a cross into the box and freshman Annika Smith fired her first collegiate shot on goal to force a Cal save.
Freshman Sophia Moness and graduate student Whitney Wiley also blasted shots for the Mustangs in the opening half that were just off target.
In the second half, Cal Poly stepped up its level of play and maintained a firm grip on the run of play.
"Second half I thought we did a better job of just playing, connecting our passes and moving the ball," Crozier said. "We did create some chances and we were a little more assertive, so I was happy with that."
Less than two minutes into the final half, Cal Poly earned a free kick from about 25 yards out. Sophomore Brennan Cole stepped up and fired a shot toward the bottom right post that Cal goalkeeper Teagan Wy had to dive for to keep out of the net.
In the 64th minute, junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel came off her line to make a fantastic kick save on Cal's Velize King to keep the match at 1-0.
64' | Just Mac being Mac??
— Cal Poly Women's Soccer (@CPWomensSoccer) September 4, 2023
?? https://t.co/rft8Z4Kbny#RideHigh???? pic.twitter.com/wgTJltozlU
Lema broke free for her second goal in the 72nd minute, but the Mustangs continued to push forward for the remainder of the match and kept the Golden Bears on their heels.
Cal outshot the Mustangs 10-6, with each team firing three on frame. The Golden Bears' attack can be difficult to contain, but the Cal Poly backline found a way to do just that for a majority of the match, blocking shots and intercepting a number of crosses.
"They have forwards that are a handful, so it just takes one little thing here or there," Crozier said, "… but we dealt with them pretty well I thought."
Junior defender Emma Brown played all 90 minutes for the 11th consecutive match.
The Mustangs continue their grueling nonconference schedule this upcoming week, returning home to face a pair of ranked teams. First up is No. 24 Gonzaga (5-1-0) at 7 p.m. Thursday, then the Mustangs welcome No. 8 Santa Clara (4-0-0) to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital on Sunday, Sept. 10, for a noon match.
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
