Cal Poly Women’s Soccer opened conference play with a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten
California Baptist on Wednesday at Spanos Stadium.
Cal Poly (4-3-2, 1-0 Big West) took an early lead, with freshman forward Madison Lujan scoring her first collegiate goal in the first half, before junior forward Sam Liaty scored the game-winner in the second.
Lujan’s goal gave Cal Poly a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute. After junior midfielder Miah Thomas played a corner kick into the box, sophomore Farra Franklin flicked it to Lujan, who finished to record her first goal as a Mustang.
“It was amazing,” Lujan said. “We all put a team effort into it, and it went [into the] back of the net.”
The Lancers (5-1-1) leveled the match early in the second half, but the Mustangs responded in the 69th minute.
Junior defender Mya Clarke moved the ball forward to junior forward Isis Salazar-Ortega, who crossed it into the box for an eager Liaty. Liaty finished the play to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.
Liaty said the goal came from a play the team had discussed at halftime.
“It was an exact play that we talked about at halftime,” Liaty said. “It’s just nice when you have a play that you talk about, and then it comes to life in the game.”
Cal Poly held its lead for the final 21 minutes to hand Cal Baptist its first loss of the season.
Head Coach Bernardo Silva said the team’s preparation and commitment to its game plan helped secure the win.
“The goal coming into today was to put on a performance that was complete for 90 minutes, which I think we achieved,” Silva said.
Thursday’s match was Cal Poly’s first at home since Aug. 27, while the victory gave the Mustangs a 1-0 start to conference play.
Cal Poly will continue Big West play on Saturday against Long Beach State at Spanos Stadium.