Thomas Nets Brace, Cal Poly Earns Dominant 3-0 Win Over SJSU

Sunday, August 23

San Luis Obispo, CA

1 P.M.

2-1-0, 0-0-0

San Jose State

0-3-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
San Jose St.	0	0	0
Cal Poly	2	1	3

Miah Thomas goal celebration, San Jose State, 082326

Photo by: Romeo Galvan

Thomas Nets Brace, Cal Poly Earns Dominant 3-0 Win Over SJSU

8/23/2026 7:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

San Diego Tickets

Postgame Highlights

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Powered by a first-half brace from junior Miah Thomas, the Cal Poly women’s soccer team cruised to a dominant 3-0 victory over San Jose State on Sunday at Spanos Stadium.

In a match where the Mustangs honored their four graduating seniors — Bailey Bracha, Shelby Runje, Annika Smith and Siena Urzua — and recognized their two fifth-year players — Sophia Minnite and Alyssa Szarlacki — Cal Poly put on an impressive performance while allowing 25 players to see action on the pitch.

“Big win for the seniors,” head coach Bernardo Silva said after the match. “We talked about the importance of emptying the tank any time its senior day to honor the seniors, and I felt like we did that … what an opportunity for us to get everybody out there and also showcase our depth. The depth is the strength of this roster.”

The Mustangs (2-1-0) were the aggressor early and often in Sunday’s match, and in the 27th minute their push to find the back of the net paid off. After receiving a pass from Smith about 20 yards from goal, freshman Madison Lujan drove inside the box and fired a shot from the right side on goal that was initially saved by the San Jose State goalkeeper before Thomas cashed in the rebound to make it 1-0 Cal Poly. The assist by Lujan was her first collegiate point.

Just over three minutes later, Cal Poly doubled its lead. Off a throw-in, sophomore Kammy MacLennan flicked a ball over to sophomore Kenzie Herzing who immediately blasted a perfect cross into the box that found the head of a wide-open Thomas on the back post. Thomas, a Cal State Bakersfield transfer, easily put away the header to score her third goal of the season and register her first career multi-goal game. MacLennan and Herzing both earned assists on the goal, the first points of their collegiate careers.

Cal Poly carried the 2-0 lead and a 12-2 shot advantage into halftime.

Four minutes into the second half, the Mustangs sealed the victory with another goal. Following a frantic scramble in front of the San Jose State goal, the ball was headed down to the foot of Smith, who quickly fed a pass over to junior Sam Liaty. The Tarleton State transfer left no doubt sending a thundering shot off the bottom of the crossbar into the back of the net. It was Liaty’s first goal and point as a Mustang, and fifth tally of her collegiate career. Making her 34th consecutive start, Smith registered her eighth career assist on the goal and her first point of the season.

The Mustangs secured their second shutout of the season as junior goalkeeper Shannon Porubski spent the first half in between the pipes while Szarlacki started in net in the second half. Szarlacki secured five saves and Cal Poly held the Spartans (0-3-0) without a shot on goal until the 78th minute.

Freshman Delaney Franklin, Suna Roberts and Nina Souto all made their collegiate debuts, while sophomores Maddy Cole and Zoe Minnery both made their first appearances as Mustangs.

Cal Poly finished with a 19-8 shot advantage in the match.

“A 3-0 scoreline is a statement win,” Silva said. “Defense wins championships so that’s important for us to get a clean sheet for our goalkeepers, for our backline and for our whole program … we’re really proud of the team for their efforts today.”

The Mustangs close out a four-match homestand to open their season when they welcome University of San Diego to Mustang Memorial Field at 4 p.m. on Thursday. You can purchase tickets to the match HERE.