Women's soccer edges Pacific

In its sixth-straight win, the Cal Poly women’s soccer team defeated Pacific University in a 1-0 victory during the final regular season home game at Alex G. Spanos Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Sharon Day drove the goal on the ground from 15 yards in the 102nd minute of the game, right past Pacific goalkeeper Jaime Souza. The ball hit inside of the post and deflected into the net.

“It felt great to finally put one away,” Day said after the match. “It was starting to get frustrating, especially in the second half.”

The Mustangs (7-8-1, 5-1 Big West Conference) had possession of the ball for most of the match, taking 35 shots while the Tigers (6-7-4, 1-5-2 BWC) had seven. Pacific’s Souza had 16 saves as the Mustangs drove the ball down the field.

Mustang goalkeeper Alli Tramel recorded three saves and her seventh shutout of the year for the Mustangs.

Allowing only two goals in conference play by a loss to UC Riverside on Oct. 5, Cal Poly has won five consecutive Big West contests, each by a score of 1-0.

“We were one and eight at one point,” said head coach Alex Crozier. “These guys stayed positive and knew we had a good team. It’s an awesome group that works very hard.”

The team worked hard on the field in both halves and both overtime sessions, dominating the match and keeping the ball away from the Tigers.

The Mustangs’ edge with 11 corner kicks to the Tigers’ two did not conceal their 12 fouls to Pacific’s 10.

The Mustangs had several shots in the first half, but failed to make a goal due to Souza’s saves. At one point, the team had three corner kicks back-to-back, and Ashley Vallis ran into a fence and knocked it over.

In an amazing save midway through the first half, co-captain Erica Leger knocked the ball away after a shot from Pacific’s Mandi Van Dorn passed over Tramel’s shoulder and nearly hit the net.

Both teams seemed to have equal possession of the ball in the second half, but both failed to drive the ball into the net. A goal was called by the game’s announcer for Cal Poly by mistake when Day made a shot that hit the side of the net during the second half.

The only goal made was put away by Day in the second overtime.

“It just feels good to win the last official home game of the season, especially on Senior Day,” Day said.

Five Cal Poly seniors were honored before the match for their careers at Cal Poly: Day, Leger, Tramel, Linae Young and Erica Zumbahlen. Freshmen midfielder Bria Park sang the national anthem as part of the special event.