The Cal Poly women’s soccer team (1-7-1) faced No. 1 Santa Clara and failed to conjure up an upset for the home crowd as they lost 4-0 Friday night.
“They were as good as we thought they would be,” said head coach Alex Crozier.
Poly seemed in control of the ball early on as action stayed on the Mustang side of the field for the opening minutes of the game including a Sharon Day shot on goal within the first minute of the game.
The momentum ceased when Santa Clara’s Courtney Lewis kicked a straight shot past Poly goalkeeper Alli Tramel into the right corner of the net from 10 yards back. She was assisted by forward Lexi Orand who received the ball from a Kiki Bosio corner kick 19 minutes into the match.
Santa Clara struck again when forward Tina Estrada knocked a ball into the same right corner of the net 30 minutes into the first half. She was assisted by Bosio.
Bosio assisted Orand 58 minutes into the second half as her shot trickled into the left corner of the net.
Tramel slid to save a goal in the last minute of the game and was charged with a penalty. Forward Tina Estrada scored on a penalty kick to put the Broncos up four.
The Mustangs had 13 shot attempts throughout the game while the Broncos had 12. Crozier said the team had plenty of opportunities but they need to work on finishing.
Freshman forward Whitney Sisler, who had three shot attempts in the game, agreed with her coach. She said the team’s problem was “getting it in the goal.”
Sisler said that the physical Santa Clara squad was also very tactical.
Crozier said the grueling non-conference schedule has prepared his team for conference play and the rest of the season should not be as difficult.
“We’re ready for conference play,” he said.
The Mustangs open conference play on Oct. 5 against UC Riverside at 7 p.m. at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.