Thursday, August 29
Sacramento, CA / Hornet Field
1 P.M.
0-2-2, 0-0-0
0
at
0
Sacramento State
1-1-2, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Cal Poly
0
0
0
Sacramento St.
0
0
0
Team Stats
CP
SAC
Goals
0
0
Shots
18
9
Shots on Goal
11
3
Saves
2
11
Corners
6
5
Fouls
7
5
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
MF/F
/ Women's Soccer
GK
/ Women's Soccer
Photo by: Dylan Greene | Cal Poly Athletics
Mustangs Earn Scoreless Draw at Sacramento State
8/29/2024 6:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Riley Wilkerson secured her first clean sheet in her second career start, but the Cal Poly women's soccer team was unable to find the back of the net in a hard-fought scoreless draw at Sacramento State on Thursday afternoon.
The Mustangs (0-2-2) outplayed, out-possessed and outshot the Hornets 18-9 while battling temperatures that soared well over 90 degrees. Despite the defeat, Wilkerson said she can tell the team is getting close to breaking through and putting it all together offensively.
"I thought it was a good hard 90 minutes," she said. "I felt like all the [players] that came on worked really, really hard. We had a bunch of chances on goal, just couldn't put them away and it was unfortunate, but we're headed in the right direction and all eyes are on Sunday against Pacific."
Eleven of the shots Cal Poly fired were on goal and senior defender Aynsley Conner earned arguably the most dangerous one of them all in the 17th minute of the match. The captain from Loomis, Calif. decided to take advantage of the space the Sacramento State defense was giving her and blasted a shot from well outside the box. The blistering shot was headed toward the top center of the goal and would have found the back of the net if Hornet goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier didn't reach up and grab it.
Cal Poly carried a 10-5 shot advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Mustangs continued to press forward and were battling tooth and nail to find the back of the net. Graduate student Whitney Wiley, senior Emily Nedom and junior Emily Lieber all registered shots on goal before Cal Poly thought they earned the game-winner in the 81st minute.
After a Sacramento State foul, the Mustangs earned a free kick on the right wing near the corner flag. Nedom stepped up to take the free kick and curled a perfect ball high and right in front of the goal that the Hornet keeper reached up and punched right into the back of the Sacramento State net. However, the referee said the Mustangs fouled the goalkeeper on the play, negating the potential game-winning goal.
Cal Poly controlled the pace of Thursday's match and played its game once again, and Wilkerson said eventually that commitment and dedication will pay off in victory.
"It was definitely good," she said about the Mustangs' play. "We got to play our playing style and really just possess the ball and put our tempo on the game. I feel like it's only going to get better as the season progresses."
Junior midfielder Brennan Cole had a team-high three shots on goal. Wilkerson finished with two saves, and Conner and redshirt sophomore midfielder Sophia Minnite played all 90 minutes to help Cal Poly secure its first shutout of the season after the Mustangs allowed one goal in each of their first three matches.
Cal Poly wraps its two-match road trip Sunday at 1 p.m. when they take on Pacific (1-2-0) at Knoles Field.
The Mustangs (0-2-2) outplayed, out-possessed and outshot the Hornets 18-9 while battling temperatures that soared well over 90 degrees. Despite the defeat, Wilkerson said she can tell the team is getting close to breaking through and putting it all together offensively.
"I thought it was a good hard 90 minutes," she said. "I felt like all the [players] that came on worked really, really hard. We had a bunch of chances on goal, just couldn't put them away and it was unfortunate, but we're headed in the right direction and all eyes are on Sunday against Pacific."
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Riley Wilkerson earned her first clean sheet in her second career start in today's match. She shared her thoughts after on the team's effort and how close the Mustangs are to hitting their stride.#RideHigh???? pic.twitter.com/FdsZBzUN0r
— Cal Poly Women's Soccer (@CPWomensSoccer) August 29, 2024
Eleven of the shots Cal Poly fired were on goal and senior defender Aynsley Conner earned arguably the most dangerous one of them all in the 17th minute of the match. The captain from Loomis, Calif. decided to take advantage of the space the Sacramento State defense was giving her and blasted a shot from well outside the box. The blistering shot was headed toward the top center of the goal and would have found the back of the net if Hornet goalkeeper Izzy Palmatier didn't reach up and grab it.
Cal Poly carried a 10-5 shot advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Mustangs continued to press forward and were battling tooth and nail to find the back of the net. Graduate student Whitney Wiley, senior Emily Nedom and junior Emily Lieber all registered shots on goal before Cal Poly thought they earned the game-winner in the 81st minute.
After a Sacramento State foul, the Mustangs earned a free kick on the right wing near the corner flag. Nedom stepped up to take the free kick and curled a perfect ball high and right in front of the goal that the Hornet keeper reached up and punched right into the back of the Sacramento State net. However, the referee said the Mustangs fouled the goalkeeper on the play, negating the potential game-winning goal.
Cal Poly controlled the pace of Thursday's match and played its game once again, and Wilkerson said eventually that commitment and dedication will pay off in victory.
"It was definitely good," she said about the Mustangs' play. "We got to play our playing style and really just possess the ball and put our tempo on the game. I feel like it's only going to get better as the season progresses."
Junior midfielder Brennan Cole had a team-high three shots on goal. Wilkerson finished with two saves, and Conner and redshirt sophomore midfielder Sophia Minnite played all 90 minutes to help Cal Poly secure its first shutout of the season after the Mustangs allowed one goal in each of their first three matches.
Cal Poly wraps its two-match road trip Sunday at 1 p.m. when they take on Pacific (1-2-0) at Knoles Field.
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