Tensions were high in Spanos Stadium as 85 minutes of grueling, back and forth play culminated in one moment: a game deciding goal by Mustang forward Ashley Brewer.
The explosive score propelled Cal Poly (8-2-8, 6-2-1) to a 1-0 victory over UC Riverside that clinched them a postseason spot, as well as sole ownership of first place in the Big West standings.
Brewer was able to drive the ball into the net after it was deflected off forward Jessie Halladay, who collided with Riverside’s goalkeeper.
“I’m just proud of everyone on the team because it took the whole team,” Brewer said “I think we all just really knew that we needed the win. In the moment, I was just like I’m gonna put this one away and put in that extra work for my team.”
The hometown hero
The goal from Brewer was the freshman’s first of her career, and it couldn’t have come in a bigger moment. Her goal sent an eruption of cheers from the crowd as she and her teammates celebrated by piling on top of fallen Jessie Halladay as the game clock neared 90 minutes.
Not only did she give her team the opportunity to be championship contenders, the San Luis Obispo native got to do it in her home stadium in front of friends and family.
“It’s great to have support and I think that especially growing up here, I recognize myself in the young fans,” Brewer said. “That was me. And just to be able to have my family here, because I grew up here, it was just a great feeling.”
In addition to the support of her family and fans, her fellow Mustangs also voiced their appreciation for Brewer. The forward played in just one game last season before medically redshirting that year.
“She’s been somebody that I have so much belief in because her potential is incredible,” head coach Bernardo Silva said. “I’m just incredibly proud of her because she’s been putting in the work and…waiting for an opportunity to contribute, and she did tonight.”
Nothing left on the board
The singular goal of the night was a must for the Mustangs, who had spent the first 85 minutes of the game being shut out by the already eliminated Highlanders. The win for Cal Poly (20 points) and a loss from Cal State Northridge (18 points) gave the Mustangs a two point lead in Big West standings.
It’s possible the pressure of the playoff implications got to the Mustangs early on. While they outshot Riverside 16 to seven, they ended with only the one goal to show for all the attempts.
“I felt like that was one of the poorest first halves we’ve played, so we addressed it at half-time,” Silva said. “I talked to the team about having more intensity and being able to set the tone in the second half.”
Halladay led the way yet again for the Mustangs on Thursday. While she was unable to capitalize on any of her attempts, she recorded six of the 16 Mustangs’ shots.
“I think it’s just a mindset going into the game,” Halladay said. “In my past games, I haven’t got as many opportunities as I wanted, so I was really intentional with this game, getting in pockets, making myself open during crosses.”
Following the match against Northridge, which ended in a draw, Cal Poly will have a week of rest before the first game of the championship kickoff on Nov. 2. But for now, according to Silva, it is “one game at a time.”