BERKELEY, Calif. – No. 12/10 California scored every goal on the board Sunday, including an own goal that gave Cal Poly a 1-0 lead, but ultimately came back for a 2-1 victory over the Mustangs on Goldman Field in Berkeley. The Golden Bears improve to 6-0 this season – the most consecutive wins to start the season since 2000.

Once again, the Taylor Comeau and Kelly Fitzgerald tandem proved to be a success for the Bears. Both players have now scored a goal in four straight games.

“Taylor is an all-around great player. She can play any position – center back, midfield, and now up front. Kelly is the same way, playing all the positions in the midfield, and is always going to try to score goals,” said head coach Neil McGuire. “We're lucky to have both of them. They scored some great goals.”

Shortly before halftime, at about 37 minutes in, Cal goalkeeper Emily Boyd left her station to try to head off an incoming ball from Cal Poly's Elise Krieghoff. As the ball surged toward the net, a pair of Golden Bear defenders headed opposite directions to try to change its path, instead causing a deflection of their legs which sent the ball into the left side of the net. The Bears headed to the locker room down 1-0 at halftime.

“At halftime, we talked about not being as direct and over the top. They gave us a lot of back space, and we wanted to try and take advantage of it too soon. We needed to be more patient,” McGuire said.  

Patience helped the Bears to two goals in the second half as Comeau scored on a penalty kick for the second time this season, giving the Bears the equalizer 60 minutes in.

With the clock ticking and a number of nearly successful chances at the goal, the Bears finally scored the go-ahead when Comeau crossed a ball toward Fitzgerald to the left, who promptly launched it into the middle of the net.

“Our players were more patient and were able to create some legitimate goal-scoring chances, which led to our victory,” McGuire said.

The Bears return to Goldman Field on Friday to face Texas Tech at 3:30 p.m.

HEAD COACH NEIL MCGUIRE'S TAKE

I thought we were sluggish today. Cal Poly came in with a great game plan and they executed well. They really gave us some trouble and it took us a while to settle. Once we found our rythym, we created some chances and fortunately got out with a win.

GOLDEN BEAR GOALS

60' – Taylor Comeau – penalty kick

85' – Kelly Fitzgerald (assisted by Taylor Comeau) – Comeau crossed the ball to the left and Fitzgerald shot it straight into the net

Fitzgerald says: Sam Witteman got the ball at about 40 yards out, and played a nice through-ball to Taylor Comeau right in front of the box. Taylor had two defenders on her and slipped it to me. It was a nice, square ball. I was right in front of the goal and slotted it past the goalie.

CAL POLY GOAL

37' – Own Goal by Cal

NEWS & NOTES

• Cal is 6-0 to start the season. The last time the Bears started their season with six wins was 2000, when the Bears won eight games until tying Santa Clara in their ninth game.
• Taylor Comeau and Kelly Fitzgerald scored their fourth goals of the season. Both players have scored in four consecutive games.
• Cal is 4-for-5 in penalty kicks.
• Emily Boyd earned the win in goal for the Bears. Boyd is 5-0 in goal.

NEXT UP

Cal faces two tough tests against ranked opponents next week. On Friday, the Bears host Texas Tech at 3:30 p.m. in a match that airs live on the Pac-12 Networks. Cal plays a rematch against Santa Clara Sunday in Berkeley, also at 3:30 p.m.

ON THE BOX SCORE

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  36:19 CP OWN GOAL (unassisted) - Own goal by Cal's #17

  2.  59:10 CAL COMEAU,TAYLOR (4) Penalty kick

  3.  84:14 CAL FITZGERALD,KELLY (4) (COMEAU,TAYLOR) - 3 cross to left, 16 taps it in straight

 Shots: Cal Poly 8, California 16

 Saves: Cal Poly 5 (Giannetti,Alyssa 5), California 1 (BOYD,EMILY 1)