Despite a late comeback attempt, Cal Poly women’s soccer fell to the Loyola Marymount University Lions 2-1.
The Mustangs’ (1-3-2) defense has been their strength this season. They have kept back-to-back clean sheets in their previous two games and only conceded three goals before their match against the Lions (3-2-0).
However, in a game that came down to capitalizing on offensive opportunities, the Mustangs failed to keep LMU out of the net.
Both teams created opportunities on the opposition’s side of the field and matched each other in shots, with four each in the first half.
Cal Poly’s defense held strong against LMU’s attack, but it conceded the first goal on a controversial no-call in a physical battle for the ball 20 minutes into the match.
After an LMU shot went out of bounds, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Riley Wilkerson sent a goal kick to junior midfielder Brennan Cole as the Lions’ Maciana Land ran into her back while challenging for the ball.
Cole fell forward and thought she was fouled as the ball went straight to LMU’s Jennessa Groves, who buried the ball into the right corner of the net. Referee Raul Velazquez saw the play as clean, and the Lions had their first score.
Both teams continued to pace each other in offense otherwise, as Cal Poly had eight second-half shots to LMU’s seven, but the Lions made more use of their opportunities.
On an LMU counterattack in the 64th minute, Caitlyn McCulloch dribbled the ball down the middle of the field and sent a perfect through ball to the Lions’ leading scorer, Kylie Dobbs, who scored in the back left of the net to put LMU up 2-0.
Despite giving up the goal on the counterattack, the Mustangs continued to press on their attack.
Cole sent a phenomenal through ball from Cal Poly’s half of the field to senior Kate Reedy, who chipped the ball in for the Mustangs’ first goal of the contest.
With 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Mustangs searched for the equalizer.
In the 86th minute, sophomore forward Jaycee DeFazio received the ball on the left side and found space for a shot that hit the left post and landed out of bounds.
LMU received the ball back and burned as much of the clock as possible before the final whistle.
Cal Poly will look to bounce back when it goes on the road again, this time to face No. 12 Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.