Cal Poly Women’s Soccer (6-5-5, 3-2-3 Big West) kept the coast green with a 2-0 victory in the annual Blue-Green rivalry game against UC Santa Barbara (8-3-6, 3-2-3 Big West).
Head Coach Bernardo Silva, a UCSB alum and former player, acknowledged the sentimental value of facing his alma mater but emphasized where his loyalties lie.
“[That] place will always hold a special place in my heart,” Silva said. “But the Mustangs gave me my first job as an assistant coach [and] brought me back as the head coach, so this is my home. It’s a special match because it’s Santa Barbara, but I’m Cal Poly and [the] Central Coast is green.”
Cal Poly leaned into its vertical, high-intensity style of play and focused on imposing its identity on the Gauchos after discovering an unexpected tactical shape change. That preparation paid off immediately: both goals came from set pieces.
Senior forward Annika Smith opened the scoring early in the eighth minute, getting her first goal of the season.
“It definitely feels amazing, finally on the board, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” Smith said.
Later, in the 74th minute, freshman defender Kate Nunes scored an insurance goal, her first in her collegiate career, to seal the 2-0 lead before the final whistle cemented the shutout.
“We were up one-zero, and I wanted to close out the game,” Nunes said.
Silva praised his squad’s availability to impose their identity under the bright stadium lights, noting that intensity remains a non-negotiable pillar for the program.
“Intensity is part of our philosophy and how we approach the game,” Silva said. “You can always bring intensity, and that will give you a chance in every single game, even when your quality is not there.”
With the rivalry win safely in hand and momentum building, Cal Poly looks to carry that confidence forward as they prepare to take on UC Irvine on Oct. 25. at Spanos Stadium.