BERKELEY --- Three games into its home schedule and the California women's soccer team is looking very strong.

Redshirt junior midfielder Kelly Fitzgerald's second half penalty kick score was enough to give the No. 21 team in the nation a 1-0 win over the Portland Pilots on Sunday afternoon at Goldman Field, The Bears remained undefeated in Berkeley during the young season and the team's third shutout win at home matched the 2007 Golden Bears squad that also won its first three home contests with clean sheets.

Heading into its longest road trip of the season, a three-game trek between Texas and back to California, a bit of home cooking has the Golden Bears in an excellent position.

"I thought that was our best performance so far. Our energy and tempo was high and that allowed us to dominate the game throughout. We need to touch up our play in the attacking third but once we begin to click there, we'll be scoring lots of goals," Fitzgerald said of the team's play. 

The winning formula for the Bears remained the same against the Pilots - play strong, possession defense and take quality chances early and often. As it has done in every opening half this year, Cal put heavy pressure on its opponent and took more shots in the process (8-3 vs Portland). No opportunity in the first half came closer than redshirt senior forward Ifeoma Onumonu's shot in the 41st minute. With space to run coming over the midfield line, Onumonu beat two defenders by herself and sent a high rising shot to the upper right corner of the goal that hit the crossbar where it meets the post.

Cal would take another four shots over the next first 25-plus minutes - and keep Portland (2-1) from taking any more before the final minute - before Fitzgerald was put on the spot for her team. Early in the 79th minute, freshman forward Abigail Kim pushed into the box for a score but was fouled in the process. Cal head coach Neil McGuire selected Fitzgerald to take the ensuring penalty shot, which she nailed with ease.

"It was a good buildup to goal," Fitzgerald said of Kim's run on goal "Abi was one-on-one with the keeper in the box and a defender fouled her from behind. I just stepped up to take the penalty for my team knowing that we had to have it." For Fitzgerald, her score marked the first time since 2014 that she has scored in back-to-back games.

Overall, Cal held a 14-4 edge on goals, doubled Portland's corner kick total (four to two) and continued its dominance of possession.

"We're happy with the win and happy with the shutout against a storied program like Portland. I'm proud of our players for performing as well as they did knowing how great of a game plan Portland had coming in," Cal head coach Neil McGuire said.

NEXT UP
The first two games of Cal's season-long three game road trip will take place in Texas. The Bears will face Texas Tech on Friday, September 2 at 5 p.m. PT and the University of Texas on Sunday, September 4 at 9 a.m. PT.