The Mustangs took on sixth-ranked Brigham Young University (BYU) in their fourth match against a top-15 ranked team this season. The Cougars squad came in with a three-game win streak.
BYU had gone 329 minutes since allowing a goal, but it took all of five minutes for the Mustangs to change that on their way to a 1-1 tie against the visiting Cougars on Thursday.
Forward Megan Abutin knocked a through ball to fellow forward Elise Krieghoff who buried it in the far corner to give the Mustangs (4-2-4) a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. The goal marked the second goal ceded by the Cougars (7-1-1) all season and the first since their only loss of the season to Stanford.
But, as to be expected from a highly ranked squad like BYU, the Cougars answered with the equalizer in the 20th minute on a goal by midfielder Elena Medeiros.
Following Medeiros’ goal, the score remained tied through two overtimes in a game rife with scoring opportunities for both sides.
Krieghoff had a chance 30 minutes into the game, but BYU goalie Rachel Boaz made a reaching block to deny the go-ahead goal just 5 minutes after she had grabbed a cross intended for Krieghoff at the last second. Abutin rattled off two shots in succession 10 minutes into the second half but couldn’t connect after Krieghoff drilled a cross over the attacking third.
“We hit the post a couple times, the crossbar once,” head coach Alex Crozier said about Cal Poly’s chances in the second half. “Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, but overall we did a great job.”
The Mustangs had a couple close calls on defense as well. The most nerve-wracking was a shot by BYU’s Paige Hunt that glanced off the crossbar in the 42nd minute. Cal Poly keeper Alyssa Giannetti had a busy night with three saves off of 31 total shots (four on goal) by the Cougars.
The double-overtime tie was the second in a row for Cal Poly after the Mustangs finished 0-0 against Cal last Sunday. Staying competitive like this is a sign of good form, but still leaves something to be desired for the team.
“We’re a little frustrated we couldn’t finish it off,” Crozier said, “But it’s a good result against a top team. We just need to get a win.”
Kreighoff’s goal was her second of the season and the 48th of her career, and Abutin notched her third assist of the season.
The Mustangs travel to Pepperdine, another preseason top-20 ranked team, for a match against the Waves this Sunday at 1 p.m.