Cal women’s soccer landed a perfect 10 with Monday’s 3-0 win over San Francisco.
With the win, the No. 11 Bears extended their undefeated streak into double digits.
Cal (7-0-3) may have had a sluggish start after the 7:00 p.m. game at the University of San Francisco’s Negoesco Stadium but showed off its offensive prowess in the later portions of the game. On the other hand, the Dons’ (5-4-2) offensive struggles continued, as they recorded their third consecutive game without scoring.
Both squads rallied chances in the first half as the momentum teeter-tottered between the two teams. Dons forward Mackenzie Krieser’s first-minute attempt threatened the Bears early. After receiving a cleared ball at the top of the Bears’ box, Krieser fired a long shot, only to have it deflect off the top right corner of the goal frame. Kreiser had a chance at redemption in the 10th minute, but her header also missed to the right.
Cal kept the pressure on the Dons by recording seven shots in the first half compared to the Dons’ five, with one finally reaching the scoreboard just as the half ticked to a close. Sophomore forward Celeste Martore assisted senior Kaitlin Fitzpatrick in the 43rd minute to break the stalemate. Fitzpatrick received Martore’s pass and deftly maneuvered through two Don defenders before sending a short shot past the outstretched fingers of San Francisco goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel.
Bear goals bookended the halftime period, and Cal emerged from the break guns blazing to record the second goal of the match in the 52nd minute. This time, it was Fitzpatrick with the assist as forward Grace Leer notched her first goal of the season.
Cal completed the trifecta off of yet another Fitzpatrick assist in the 71st minute. Fitzpatrick’s pass found sophomore forward Ifeoma Onumonu, who took Schiffel on one-on-one and emerged victorious. The goal was Onumonu’s seventh of the season, making her the Bears’ top scorer thus far this year. Cal’s offensive efforts dominated the second half, as the Bears outshot the Dons 17 to six in the later 45 minutes.
On the other end of the field, Cal goalkeeper Emily Kruger recorded five saves and her fourth shutout of the season.
Taylor Brink covers women’s soccer. Contact her at [email protected]