In its 2010 season, the Cal Poly women’s soccer team was plagued by injuries and couldn’t secure a spot in the Big West Conference Tournament for the first time since 2005.
The Mustangs were picked by Big West coaches to finish second in the conference at the start of the season, but finished fifth in the standings with a 3-4 conference record, five points behind fourth-place Pacific.
After a 7-0 loss against No. 3 UCLA to open their season (the Mustangs were led offensively by senior Whitney Sisler and sophomore Bianca Burright). The team averaged two goals a game over the next seven games and posted a 5-4 record.
Sisler, who was limited in previous years due to injury, exploded in the 2010 season leading Cal Poly with eight goals and 16 points. Burright followed close behind Sisler, finishing second in goals (4) and points (11), while adding three assists.
But just before conference play began, injuries to leading scorers Sisler and Burright, would dampen Cal Poly’s hot scoring streak.
In the last 12 games of the season, Cal Poly averaged 0.58 goals a game, including a four-game scoreless streak versus Big West opponents.
Sisler was able to return after missing five games, but the scoring duo would not be reunited as Burright’s injury would keep her out of the last eight games of the season.
Despite missing a large portion of the season, Sisler still made second team All-Big West and finished second in the conference in scoring.
Though Cal Poly rediscovered its winning ways toward the end of the season, posting consecutive victories against UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Bakersfield, it would not be enough as the team did not place in the top four for conference playoffs.
It was only the second time in the last eight years that Cal Poly women’s soccer team had missed the postseason. During those eight years, Cal Poly was victorious in back-to-back conference finals appearances in 2003 and 2004, while losing in the finals in three of the last four seasons.