Anderson Named Pac-12 Goalkeeper Of The Week

BERKELEY -  California goalkeeper and reigning national Freshman of the Year Angelina Anderson earned the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week honor, the conference announced Monday afternoon. Anderson collected the award after racking up a season-high nine saves in a 1-0 win against Stanford on Saturday.

"We are happy for Angelina," said head coach Neil McGuire. "She, along with her teammates, played very well in the game versus Stanford." 

This marks Anderson's first player of the week nod of the season, and the first weekly honor for the Golden Bears this spring. Anderson was also featured in the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week for the week of March 22. The sophomore received keeper of the week honors three times in 2019 before becoming the first player to win both Freshman of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year in the conference. 

"I'm very honored to receive Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week after an awesome victory over Stanford on Saturday," Anderson said. "I'm proud of our performance as a team and I'm excited about getting a big result. It's only up from here for this team! Go Bears!"

Saturday's victory was the first Cal win against Stanford in eight years. Against the Cardinal, Anderson faced 20 shots, another season-high for the Danville native. 

Anderson made a strong start in the ninth minute after punching away a corner kick from Maya Doms. The Cardinal attack sent back-to-back shots in the same minute that would give a team block and the first save of the evening for the Cal keeper. 
Stanford's Civana Kuhlmann put Anderson to the test with a shot on goal in the 26th minute that was knocked away from the top of the net. Anderson made a similar save off Kuhlmann in the 40th minute and once again kept the Cardinal in a shutout. 

The Bears held a 1-0 lead at the half, but the Cardinal attack would not give Anderson any rest in the second half. Stanford had a dangerous opportunity in the 74th minute from Kuhlmann that was punched away by Anderson. Madison Haley would take a shot immediately following but with Anderson in her way, the shot went high. 

The biggest play of the evening came in the 87th minute when Kuhlmann was given a penalty kick placed just at the top of the box. Anderson made a deep dive to the left corner of the net and pushed Stanford's last shot away from the goal. With dying minutes, the Cardinal sent another shot out of bounds and brought the ball back into Cal possession.

Anderson entered this season on watch after making both the MAC Hermann Award Watch List and TopDrawerSoccer National Top 100. Currently, Anderson has gathered 24 saves and three clean sheets this spring. 

Keep up-to-date on the Golden Bears throughout the year by following the team on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc) and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).