Not all goals are created equally. Unfortunately, the Cal Poly women’s soccer team learned that the hard way against Fresno State as Lauren Lindstrom downed the Mustangs 3-2 with a golden goal in the first overtime.
“We had our chances, they kept coming back,” head coach Alex Crozier said. “They play a defensive counter-attacking style that makes it hard to get into a rhythm.”
The Mustangs (6-4-1) entered the game attempting to continue their early season momentum, the team entered the game with two of their losses coming to nationally ranked Dayton and No. 16 Santa Clara. Cal Poly also gave Nevada its only loss of the season and earned a draw against No. 9 Pepperdine. The Bulldogs moved their record to 5-3-2 with the win.
Cal Poly was put on its heels early as a misplayed ball deep in its zone allowed Fresno State forward Callie Hancock to score in the fifth minute. Cal Poly nearly answered in the 18th minute, but a shot by junior midfielder Julie McKee went wide left and her header just missed five minutes later.
Down 1-0, the Mustangs dodged a bullet in the 31st minute when Fresno State forward Shonice Myers headed a corner kick over the goal. However, Cal Poly equalized four minutes later when senior midfielder Tiffany Gummow scored from 25 yards out; she was aided by an assist from sophomore forward Christina Farrington. The goal was Gummow’s fifth of the year and her sixth soon followed.
Cal Poly started the second half on the offensive when senior forward Afton Thulin’s shot was stopped by Fresno State goalkeeper Katie Devault. However, the momentum shifted in the 58th minute when the Bulldogs’ midfielder Laura Dodd scored on a rebound off Tara Boyton’s shot that was saved by Mustangs goalkeeper Brooke Gauvin.
“They did a good job picking us off on corner kicks and in transition,” Crozier said. “We had trouble sustaining attacks.”
Cal Poly regained its composure in the 70th minute when Gummow scored her second goal of the game on a free kick, a result of a six-second call on Devault, just inside the 18-yard box. The goal was Gummow’s fifth goal in four games.
Gauvin, the reigning Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Week, helped force the game into extra time when she blocked a Boyton shot in the 82nd minute. Gauvin recorded 12 saves in two games last week and added four to her total on Friday.
“We just need to focus on getting better each week and taking care of the ball,” Crozier said. “We won’t see this style of play much in conference.”
The Mustangs out shot Fresno State 15 to 10, although both squads had six shots on goal. The Bulldog’s main statistical advantage came from corner kicks, Fresno State earned ten while the Mustangs had just one.
Freshman Sara Lancaster was relatively contained by the Bulldog defense. Lancaster, who has scored five goals on the young season, had just one shot on goal.
The Mustangs open up Big West play next week at home against Cal State Fullerton on Friday and then play Long Beach State on Sunday.
The team went 4-5 in conference last season, but rallied to win its final three matches.