Cal Earns Road Win Over Saint Mary’s

MORAGA, California – California women's soccer received second-half goals from Karlie Lema and Alexis Wright to earn a 2-0 victory over Saint Mary's (CA) on Thursday afternoon at Saint Mary's Stadium.
 
After dominating the chances and opportunities throughout the game, the Bears finally earned their breakthrough in the 69th minute. Mia Fontana received the ball on the left flank and fired a dangerous cross to the middle. Saint Mary's goalkeeper Taylor Poland wasn't able to get more than a hand on it as it skipped into the box, but Lema was in the right place as she knocked the rebound into the net to give the Bears the lead.
 
Just eight minutes later, the Bears added a second as Wright collected a throw in at the top of the box and made a nice turn to get the ball on her left foot and fired a rocket low to Poland's right, Poland was able to get a hand on it again, but was unable to keep the strong shot out of the goal. The goal was Wright's first career tally.
 
The Bears (1-1-0) defense was stout throughout as they only allowed three shots, and two shots on goal. Angelina Anderson only had to make two saves to earn her 21st career shutout. Anderson is now in sole possession of fourth place on Cal's all-time shutout list.
 
Saint Mary's (2-1-0) had been undefeated on the young season before running into the hungry Bears team. Cal however came out and dominated the shots, 20-3, and the shots on goal, 11-2. Cal also outpaced the Gaels on corner kicks, 6-1
 
Cal took control of the game in the first 15 minutes of play as they dominated possession early and kept the ball in their offensive half. At the 10-minute mark, Lema had the first big chance of the game. The sophomore lashed a sharp-angle shot from the right side of the box that caromed off the post.
 
In the 24th minute, Keely Roy intercepted a ball in her own half and made a fantastic solo run down the middle of the field. She carried the ball just shy of the Gaels' box and fired a shot that went just wide.
 
Jadyn Shinn came into the game and made an impact as she made a nice stepover move in the 39th minute to generate space and allow her the opportunity to shoot from the right. However, her attempt went just over the bar, hitting the stanchion behind the goal. In the 44th minute, Paige Metayer got down the right side of the box and fired a cross to the middle, Noelle Bond-Flasza tried a back heel, but it was saved by Poland.
 
It was more of the same from the Bears in the second half as Bond-Flasza opened the stanza by sending Lema into the box. Lema drew Poland out of her net and cut the ball back to Natalie Hueston who fired just wide. Lema had another opportunity in the 55th minute as she won the ball back in the offensive third, made a nice move to gain a yard of space and fired a shot that went just over the net.
 
As the Bears upped the intensity, Roy hit the crossbar with an attempt from 23 yards away. Then Anysa Gray had an attempt blocked by a Gaels' arm to set up a Cal free kick from just outside the box in the 64th minute. Ari Manrique fired the free kick on-target, but Poland made the stop to keep the game level. Gray followed as she combined with her sister Amaya to create an opportunity, but Anysa Gray's shot was saved at the near post.
 
After Lema and Wright scored, Cal kept the pressure up. While Saint Mary's was chasing the game and trying to score, the Bears still maintained control. Cal created a couple of opportunities and only allowed one shot, which was a long-range effort that Anderson easily caught.
 
The Bears will be back in action on Sunday as they host UC San Diego at Edwards Stadium in its regular season home opener. The Bears will kickoff at 4 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cal men's soccer team. The men's team will play Villanova at 1 p.m. Both games of the doubleheader will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.  
 
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal women's soccer, please follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc) and Facebook (/CalWSoc/).