BERKELEY --- The first of two home matches against top Pac-12 teams was played to a draw Thursday afternoon as the No. 10 California women's soccer team and the Utah Utes finished their meeting in a 1-1 tie at Goldman Field.

Cal (12-2-2, 5-0-2 Pac-12) and Utah (10-2-3, 5-0-2 Pac-12) entered the contest tied for second place in the conference with identical league records and produced as evenly played a matchup as the Golden Bears have been a part of all season.

The Bears, who came into the match with an undefeated mark in Berkeley (8-0), saw the Utes strike first in the opening half. Utah's Taylor Slattery put the visitors on the board after taking a pass from teammate Natalie Vukic and converting on a turn-and-shoot move from about 15 yards out. The goal was only the third score the Bears have conceded at home and only the second time Cal has trailed in a match held at Goldman (September 29 vs Washington).

Unlike that match against the Huskies last month, Cal was unable to respond by the end of the first, failing to capitalize on its 7-4 edge in shots over the first 45 minutes. However, it did not take long after the second half started for Cal's resilience to pay off.

Junior Haley Lukas and redshirt senior Ifeoma Onumonu connected in the 60th minute to tie the game at one apiece on a Lukas cross and Onumonu header. The score of Onumonu was her ninth of the season and 32nd of her career, putting her in solo possession of fifth place all-time on Cal's goals list.

Senior Arielle Ship nearly matched her fellow senior forward with a goal of her own in the first overtime but the Bears' best shot at a golden goal in the 92nd minute hit the post instead of the net.

Utah had a final chance to end the contest early in the waning moments of the second overtime but junior Emily Boyd's diving save of a high arching shot in the 109th minute kept the game even and allowed the Bears to walk away with at least one point on the night.

NEXT UP
Cal will play its fifth ranked opponent of the season on Sunday, October 23 when the Bears take No. 22 Colorado at 1 p.m. PT. The match will also serve as Senior Day for Cal as it honors nine of its current players.