SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. ? Natalie Haigh's goal less than one minute into play gave CSUB's women's soccer team an early lead, but the goal would not stand in a 3-1 loss to Cal Poly Sunday afternoon.
“We played well today,” said CSUB Head Coach Nicole Van Dyke. “After we scored we spent the rest of the half defending, but the second half was a different story as we held possession for much of the period.”
Haigh's goal, her first of the season, came just 48 seconds after kickoff when a mishandled cross by Cal Poly's keeper ended up at her feet. From five yards out, Haigh slotted the ball into the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs (4-8-1 overall) tied the game at the 12:36 mark when Carrie Andrews headed in a shot off of a corner kick by Leah Morales.
The two Cal Poly players hooked up again in the 75th minute as another Andrews header off a Morales corner kick gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.
The Roadrunners pressed forward in the final 10 minutes, seeking an equalizing goal to force overtime. In the midst of sending players upfield, CP's Sharon Day ended up in a breakaway situation.
CSUB's Leanne Tucker forced Day out towards the flank, but Day angled a low shot across the middle of the box and into the net.
“Tucker did a great job cutting off her angle and didn't let her get a hard shot,” said Van Dyke. “But our goalkeeper got caught off her post and was not in position to save the shot down the middle of the goal.”
The Mustangs claimed a 15-3 shot advantage in the match, forcing Roadrunner keeper Nicole Padilla to make seven saves. Coral Hoover had one save for Cal Poly.
“Overall our spirit is not shot because we were right there the whole game and have also now scored in two straight games,” said Van Dyke.
CSUB (3-10-1 overall) returns home for two straight contests including Biola University on Oct. 19 and Westmont College on Oct. 24. Both matches kick off at 7 p.m. on the Main Soccer Field.
