Cal Poly Women’s Soccer came up short in the final game of their two-game road trip this week, falling 2-0 to Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Main Soccer Field.
The Mustangs’ (4-9-3, 2-4-1 Big West) struggles to finish scoring opportunities have continued to persist late into the season and got the best of them yet again against the Roadrunners (6-3-9, 4-2-2 Big West).
Cal Poly is coming off a promising 2-0 win over CSUN on Thursday, but the offense faltered against the Roadrunners’ defensive efforts.
Graduate midfielder Whitney Wiley nearly put the Mustangs on the board on two separate occasions, including a 72nd-minute try that was saved as Cal Poly rallied with multiple close shots late in the game.
The Mustangs played a better game statistically, leading the Roadrunners in total shots, 13-7, while also finishing with a 13-16 foul advantage.
Junior forward Jessie Halladay and sophomore midfielder Brennan Cole also added three shots apiece.
With two saves in the loss, goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel moved to a tie for fourth in program history for total saves at 195.
Cal Poly now ranks ninth in the Big West, nowhere near the position early predictions had given the team that made it to the Big West championship game last year.
Despite their struggles, the Mustangs are just three points, or one win, out of a top-six position needed to make it into the tournament.
Their next two must-win games come against Hawaii, who are currently leading the Big West, and UC Davis, who sit in fifth.
The homestand will be the last of longtime head coach Alex Crozier’s career, as he plans to retire at the end of the season.
The six-time Big West coach of the year will leave big shoes to fill. Over his 32 seasons, the Mustangs have won 10 regular-season conference titles, three Big West Tournament titles, and six NCAA tournament appearances.
The Mustangs will be looking to regain their footing on Oct. 24 against Hawaii at 7 p.m. at Mustang Memorial Field.