Cal Poly Women’s Soccer won their first game of the season in a 2-0 victory over the University of the Pacific Tigers.
Throughout the season, the Mustangs (1-2-2) have struggled to finish offensively.
Cal Poly has gone scoreless in their last three matchups and has scored only one goal overall, which came in its first fixture of the year against Portland.
However, the Mustangs found their groove in a game against an opponent against whom they’ve had success against in recent years.
Cal Poly has won the last five matchups against Pacific. Last year, forwards sophomore Annika Smith and graduate Whitney Wiley both scored their first goals as Mustangs to help propel them to a 3-1 victory.
Things came full circle in the two teams’ meetings this season. Once again, both players scored to give Cal Poly the 2-0 win.
Early in the game, Smith was fouled chasing an errant pass from a Pacific defender in the box. With a shot down the middle in the ensuing penalty kick, the Mustangs gained the early lead in the 15th minute.
From then on, the game was all Cal Poly. They kept the pressure on offensively while rarely giving up ground on defense.
The first half ended with eight Mustang shots compared to the Tigers’ one.
In the opening minutes of the second half, junior forward Emily Lieber dribbled the ball down the right side and crossed the ball into the box for Wiley to tap in for Cal Poly’s second score of the game.
The Mustang backline continued to hold up for the rest of the contest, giving the Tigers few opportunities. Senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel was rarely tested, only having to make one save throughout the match.
With great performances on both sides of the ball, Cal Poly cruised to their first victory of the season, 2-0, over Pacific.
The Mustangs will look to keep their momentum going as they return home for a matchup against LMU on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 4:30 p.m.