SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — While playing amidst a downpour at times, the Cal Poly women’s soccer team took down Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara 2-0 on Wednesday night at Spanos Stadium.
Senior Annika Smith and freshman Kate Nunes both headed home goals to propel the Mustangs to an empathic victory over their Central Coast rival in a rematch of last year’s Big West Championship match, which Cal Poly won 1-0 to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years.
Conditions were extremely difficult at times, but head coach Bernardo Silva said he couldn’t be prouder of the way his team battled in the rain to secure an important win.
“A tremendous effort,” Silv said, “… I thought we were really good at imposing our identity on them and that was a big part of our game plan today is make sure that we’re us, and if we’re us and we’re together, cool things happen and that’s what happen tonight.”
With the victory, Cal Poly (6-5-5, 3-2-3 Big West) moves into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big West standings at 12 points with three matches remaining. They trail third-place UC San Diego, who they own the head-to-head tiebreaker against, by just 3 points.
Smith got the Mustangs on the board early against the Gauchos (8-3-6, 3-2-3 BW). In the ninth minute, Nunes sent a corner kick into the box that was pinged around a few times before finding the head of junior Lilly Cole in the penalty area who headed the ball back in front of the net. Smith rose up and directed a header to the far right post to put the Mustangs in front 1-0. It was the first goal of the season for the reigning Big West Offensive Player of the Year and the 17th of her career. She now has 43 career points, tied for the 15th most in Cal Poly history.
Cole earned her first career point and assist on the tally in her 23rd career appearance and eighth start of the season.
Cal Poly carried that advantage into halftime and doubled its lead in the 74th minute. After being subbed on prior to a Cal Poly corner kick, Nunes proceeded to deliver the dagger to the Gauchos on the ensuing set piece. Junior Miah Thomas played a corner into the box that was punched out of the front of the net by the UCSB goalkeeper, but not out of danger. The punched ball immediately found the head of Nunes, who sent a high-flying header from just over 10 yards out to the top left post. It was the first career goal and point for the freshman phenom who has started in every match for the Mustangs this season, playing the fifth most minutes on the team.
The goal from Nunes was the insurance the Mustangs needed to close out their sixth shutout of the season and improve their unbeaten streak to three matches (1-0-2).
Junior goalkeeper Shannon Porubski secured one save to earn her fifth clean sheet of the season and the 14th of her career.
“3 big points to get us closer to our goal to be in the tournament at the end of the season,” Silva said.
Cal Poly remains at home to host UC Irvine at 1 p.m. Sunday for Cancer Awareness Day and Pups at the Pitch. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and you can purchase tickets HERE.