Cal Concludes Home Slate Vs. Arizona And Arizona State

BERKELEY - California women's soccer will play its final two home games of the season this week as they take on Arizona and Arizona State at Edwards Stadium. Cal will take on Arizona at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon before squaring off with Arizona State at 12 p.m. on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
 
Before Sunday's game vs. Arizona State, the Bears will honor 10 seniors for their contributions to the program: Abena Aidoo, Sydney Collins, Elle Lindenlaub, Devin Lozano, Paige Metayer, Emily Smith, Makena Smith, Emma Treasure, Emma Westin and Amanda Zodikoff.
 
Cal won the last time they played both Arizona and Arizona State in Berkeley. The Bears won 3-0 over Arizona in a Halloween matchup vs. the Wildcats in 2019. Cal is sporting a two-match win streak vs. Arizona State, winning 2-1 in both 2019 and during last season's spring 2021 schedule. Amaya Gray scored the game-winner in overtime last season, connecting on a cross from Kaylee Nguyen.
 
The Bears are coming off a shutout win over Utah in Salt Lake City. After the team's performance, Courtney Boone was named Pac-12 Defender of the Week and Angelina Anderson was named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
STIFLING DEFENSE
Cal has had one of the best defenses in the country this year, allowing only 0.85 goals per game and only 8.5 shots per contest. Cal has controlled possession in the majority of their non-conference contests leading to a massive 14.5-8.5 advantage in shots. The Bears have only permitted opponents to register 40 shots on goal in 13 contests, 3.1 on-target attempts per game.
 
Consequently, the Bears have posted five shutouts in 13 games and have only allowed more than one goal in three games so far this year.
 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Cal's No. 1 ranked recruiting class has made waves immediately. Three of the Bears' top four scorers are freshman: Karlie Lema (5 goals, 10 points) leads the team while Ari Manrique (1 goal, 4 points) and Jordyn Young (1 goal, 3 points) have also had an immediate impact.
 
Additionally, Ayo Oke has an assist. Marleen Rohde scored the game-winning goal vs. OSU and is third on the team in shots with 18. Noelle Bond-Flasza, Courtney Boone, Maya Griffin, Alexis Wright and Velize King have all seen time.
 
DEEP ROSTER
The Bears have a deep roster of contributors that have positively impacted the team this year. The Bears have played 17 or more players in every game this year and have played more than 20 on nine occasions. 28 different players have logged minutes and 23 players have earned starts so far during the 2021 season.
 
15 different players have scored points for the Bears so far. Karlie Lema leads the way with five goals and 10 points. Sydney Collins has a team-best five assists.
 
TWIN OUTCOMES
Cal features a set of twins in Amaya and Anysa Gray. The sophomores from East Palo Alto have been constants in the Bears' attack.

Both have played seven games as Amaya has started five and Anysa three. Amaya has three points as she scored the game-tying goal vs. Saint Mary's, which rescued a draw for the Bears. Anysa scored the game-winning goal against Portland in the 83rd minute.
  
A-PLUS ANGIE
Angelina Anderson is now fifth on Cal's all-time saves list. She passed Mary Harvey in the 2021 season opener as she recorded three saves vs. UCSD. She now has 177 in her career. Harvey had 156 career saves. Anderson also has 18 career shutouts and is just two away from tying for fifth on Cal's all-time list.
 
Anderson was named National Freshman of the Year in 2019 as well as Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year and Freshman of the Year. She was the first player to win both Freshman of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year in the conference. She earned second-team All-Pac-12 last season as she's proven to be one of the top shot stoppers in the nation.
 
WEEKLY HONORS
Courtney Boone (Pac-12 Defender of the Week) and Angelina Anderson (Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week) earned honors after Cal held Utah scoreless in the team's matchup on October 15. Cal held the Utes to only three shots on goal, all of which Anderson saved, including a diving stop of Anna Escobedo in the 37th minute. Anderson kept her fifth shutout of the season and 18th of her career. She is now just two shutouts from breaking into Cal's all-time top five in career shutouts. Boone was starting her third game and playing in her sixth contest. She played 89 minutes at center back for the Bears and was matched up with Utah's leading scorer, Taliana Kaufusi, for most of the game. Boone teamed with Emily Smith and the rest of the Bears' defense to hold Kaufusi without a shot.
 
A QUICK INTRO
Makena Smith joined the Bears' soccer team two days before the game vs. Santa Clara on 8/22. She had one day of practice before the junior was introduced to the lineup in goal vs. #2 Santa Clara. Smith was named Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week for her performance. Smith is an All-Pac-12 catcher on the Cal softball team, but had experience playing for Legends FC club prior to joining Cal.
 
She stepped into the lineup and recorded seven saves in 110 minutes of action against the defending NCAA champions and helped Cal secure a draw.
  
SENIOR CLASS AWARD
California fifth-year player Emily Smith has been named as one of 30 candidates for the women's soccer 2021 Senior CLASS Award due to her notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
 
LEAVING IT LATE
Cal has scored seven goals in the final 15 minutes of games this year, that has helped the Bears collect an extra three wins and two ties. Cal was able to score twice in the final 10 minutes at Portland to claim a 2-0 win and seal an important non-conference victory against a traditional west coast power.
 
The Bears also scored in the 83rd minute vs. Saint Mary's (CA) as Amaya Gray headed home a cross. Gray's goal helped the Bears comeback and secure a draw. Cal opened Pac-12 play with a 77th minute equalizer vs. Colorado to secure a draw. Marleen Rohde scored in the 82nd minute to put the Bears in front and claim a win vs. Oregon State. Karlie Lema scored the lone goal of the game vs. Utah in the 76th minute to help Cal claim a road win.