After a three-game homestand to start the year, Cal Poly Women’s Soccer began their first road trip with a scoreless draw against Sacramento State.
The Mustangs (0-2-2) came in still searching for their first victory after an intense performance in a 1-0 loss to No. 3 UCLA, while the Hornets (1-1-2) were looking to ride off the momentum of an 88th-minute equalizer to draw 1-1 with UC Santa Barbara.
Close games have dominated Cal Poly’s season. Their first three fixtures ended in 1-1 draws and two 1-0 losses.
The trend would continue in yet another tightly contested match, though the Mustangs would take more shots against their opponent in this one.
Both teams played stifling defense, making it difficult for either side to make plays in the box. Cal Poly would send some through balls forward to find attackers in space, but they rarely found opportunities up close.
Instead, the Mustangs took shots from distance.
Junior Camryn Penn took a long shot from outside the box two minutes into the game that Sac State keeper Izzy Palmatier saved.
This was the first of eighteen total shots by Cal Poly, many of which were from a distance. Eleven of the Mustangs’ shots were on goal, but most gave Palmatier little trouble. Many of the Sac State keeper’s eleven saves landed in her hands.
Late in the game, Cal Poly earned a free kick after sophomore Anna Babinski was brought down while chasing a throw-in up the right side. Senior Emily Nedom crossed the ball into the box, seemingly headed in by sophomore Annika Smith.
However, the goal was disallowed. Referee Robert Vincze ruled that the Hornets’ keeper was pulled down, preventing her from attempting to save the ball.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, both teams searched for the go-ahead goal but failed to find it.
Next, Cal Poly will finish their short road trip in Stockton for a match against the University of the Pacific on Sept. 1 at 1 p.m.