4-1-7, 2-1-0
UC Davis
2-5-4, 0-1-1
Cal Poly Downs UC Davis 1-0 to Earn 2nd Straight Shutout
9/28/2025 6:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DAVIS, Calif. — A goal from junior forward Annika Smith in the 67th minute was the difference as the Cal Poly women’s soccer team secured its second straight Big West victory and shutout Sunday at UC Davis, downing the Aggies 1-0.
“A really important win on the road,” head coach Bernardo Silva said after the match. “I thought our first half was fantastic, and the second half we adjusted some things just to make sure we stayed on the front foot … every Big West game is going to be a battle, and today was a physical one, a gritty one.”
The Mustangs (4-1-7 overall) improved to 2-1-0 in Big West play with the win and are currently near the top of the table three matches into conference play.
“To get the result of 6 points this week is huge,” Smith said about the team’s ability to pick up two conference victories this week.
Cal Poly was the more dangerous looking team in the opening half of play, firing four shots on goal compared to the Aggies two. Sophomore midfielder Kiki Vostermans was responsible for one of those opportunities, firing a ball played to her foot by senior forward Jessie Halladay toward the top center of the goal in the 21st minute that was poked over the net by the UC Davis goalkeeper.
In the 54th minute, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Shannon Porubski stood tall in net and made a pair of massive saves during a wild sequence to keep UC Davis scoreless. Following a cross played into the box, UC Davis’ Ava Coverdale had a point-blank shot right in front of the net turned away by a diving Porubski. Then a rebound attempt by Coverdale was partially blocked by senior defender Camryn Penn before Porubski made another big save to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line.
Just 13 minutes later, Cal Poly broke through for the match’s only goal. Senior forward Emily Lieber drove toward the right endline and sent a cross into the box that Vostermans got a touch on with her back foot before Smith picked up the ball just inside the top of the 18-yard box. The Scottsdale, Arizona native settled the ball and then blasted a shot to the back of the net. It was her fifth goal of the season — tied for the second most in the Big West — and the 14th of her career. For Vostermans, it was her second assist of the season while Lieber registered her 12th career assist on the tally, tied for the 12th most in Cal Poly history.
Following the goal, Cal Poly buckled down defensively and held the Aggies (2-5-4, 0-1-1 Big West) without a shot for the rest of the match to preserve the victory.
“Defenses win championships and I think it’s really important for us to continue to recognize that games are won and lost in the littlest details,” Silva said, “… and I thought today was another important step in the right direction for us to continue to build a team that can win a tournament.”
Porubski finished with three saves to secure her second straight shutout and fourth clean sheet of the season.
“We always pride ourselves on getting a clean sheet so props to Shannon and our whole backline, that’s huge for us,” Smith said. “Super proud of everyone.”
Smith, Penn, seniors Brennan Cole and Sophia Minnite, sophomore Ava Mirelez and freshman Sam Walker played all 90 minutes in the match.
Cal Poly returns to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by Dignity Health French Hospital at 7 p.m. Thursday to host Cal State Bakersfield for Alumni Weekend.
Team Stats
Annika Smith (5)
Assisted By: Kiki Vostermans , Emily Lieber
GOAL by CP Smith, Annika Assist by Vostermans, Kiki and Lieber, Emily.
66:23
