The Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer team is doing its absolute best to defend its NCAA Division II national championship.
The No. 1-ranked Broncos are off to a 7-0-0 start — tied for the best record after seven matches in the program’s history — following a 1-0 victory over Cal State East Bay in Hayward on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Marisa Salazar scored early, and goalkeeper Jenna Tetrault (Redlands East Valley High) made a career-high eight saves to earn the shutout as Cal Poly Pomona remained perfect heading into its California Collegiate Athletic Conference schedule.
“I kept reminding myself as the game went on to play smart and safe and have the girls’ backs as they have mine,” said Tetrault, who was named CCAA goalkeeper of the week.
“It definitely felt great to walk away with a shutout knowing this was an important game setting the tone for conference,” Tetrault said.
The Broncos controlled the match early, applying constant pressure before finding a breakthrough in the 11th minute when Salazar buried a rebound for her fourth goal of the season. The senior midfielder totaled a team-high seven shots — four on goal — and had a chance to double the lead from the penalty spot in the 31st minute, but her attempt missed just wide.
Cal State East Bay rattled off nine shots in the second half, many of which came in a tense final 20 minutes, but Tetrault remained focused between the posts to preserve Cal Poly Pomona’s third shutout of the season.
“It was definitely an intense game, especially towards the end of the second half, but I had full faith in my back line to keep it at no goals conceded,” Tetrault said.
Cal Poly Pomona’s back line, anchored by Georgia Rink, Mikaela Marr, and Liberty Ortiz (Ayala High), held firm under pressure.
“East Bay are a good opponent for us,” Rink said. “We missed a few opportunities to put the game away early, and the second half was scrappy.”
The Broncos created enough chances to keep Cal State East Bay defensive. Morgan Huff had four shots (two on goal), while Vanessa Cruz contributed three shots with two on target.
The team opens CCAA play at Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
BRONCOS MEN STUN CSUSB
Throw out the rankings when the Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino men’s soccer teams square off.
Emiliano Garcia scored late as the Broncos survived an own goal to pull off a 3-2 victory over the Coyotes at Kellogg Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Marvin Gamez and Daniel Hernandez (Arlington High) also had goals as Cal Poly Pomona (5-1-2) defeated CSUSB for the second consecutive year.
Sophomore Rafa Fonseca (Fontana High) scored an early equalizer for No. 25-ranked Cal State San Bernardino (5-1-2), but it wasn’t enough as the Coyotes had their seven-match unbeaten streak snapped.
CAPUANO EARNS AWARD
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps senior Riley Capuano has been selected as the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III women’s athlete of the week.
Capuano finished 10th at the 24-team UC Riverside Invitational, running the 6K course in 20 minutes, 47.5 seconds. In a field of 219 runners, Capuano bested competition from mostly Division I and Division II programs and led CMS to a fourth-place team finish.
After starting the season with a victory at the Coyote Challenge, Capuano was runner-up at the Division III Pre-National.
CMS will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.
SBVC JUMPS IN POLL
For the first time this season, the San Bernardino Valley College men’s soccer team has reached No. 5 in the recent United Soccer Coaches junior college coaches’ poll.
Johnny Gonzalez has five goals to lead SBVC (6-2-2 overall), which jumped eight spots from No. 13 after a 2-0 win at previously No. 4-ranked El Camino on Friday, Sept. 26
Norco (7-3-1) dropped six spots to No. 12 after a 4-1 loss to No. 3 Cerritos on Friday.
ODDS & ENDS
Senior Mitzi Duarte carded a 5-under 67 to match the lowest round of the tournament as the UC Riverside women’s golf team finished eighth at the Seattle University Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational at Tacoma (Wash.) Country and Golf Club on Tuesday, Sept. 30. … Senior Mikayla O’Brien (Summit High) earned her third Western Athletic Conference goalkeeper of the week award after only allowing one goal in two games to open conference play. … La Verne senior outside hitter Mya Ray was named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Association volleyball player of the week for the third time this season. The No. 1-ranked Leopards (11-0) defeated Pomona-Pitzer in four sets, 25-21, 25-16, 24-26, 25-20, on Saturday, Sept. 27. … La Sierra University graduate student Sean Palena was named Golden State Athletic Conference player of the week after totaling four goals in two wins last week. A native of Perris, Palena has 10 goals and four assists this season.
