Alex Crozier’s final season as the head coach of Cal Poly Women’s Soccer started off with a 1-1 draw against the University of Portland Pilots.
The Pilots (0-0-1) took their first visit to Mustang Memorial Field after hosting their four previous matches against the Mustangs (0-0-1).
It was a physical affair throughout the night with referee Eder Alvarez generally letting play continue despite protests from both sides at points throughout the night.
Senior midfielder McKenna Carbon would be booked for a yellow card in the 24th minute after a pair of challenges against Pilot players.
After being pinned in their third in the start of the game Cal Poly broke through with a goal on a 34th minute strike by senior forward Emily Nedom.
Both Portland goal scorers from last year’s 2-0 loss in Sophia Mattice and Nedya Sawan graduated, meaning any response from the Pilots would have to come from elsewhere.
That came four minutes after the halftime break, when Cally Togiai looped a header over Mackenzie Samuel and into the back of the net.
Portland almost found a potential winner in the 80th minute but were turned aside by Samuel and the back of freshman defender Lilly Cole.
Neither team could get much going in the last 10 minutes and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Cal Poly put the reigning West Coast Conference goalkeeper of the year Bre Norris to work with seven shots on net.
Women’s soccer stays at home for their next tilt, taking on the Fresno State Bulldogs on Sunday, Aug. 16 at noon inside Mustang Memorial Field.
