LUBBOCK, TEXAS --- A top-25 matchup turned into a lopsided affair for the No. 19 California women's soccer team as the Golden Bears upset the No. 15 Texas Tech Red Raiders in dominating fashion, 4-0, Friday evening.

The team's first ranked win of the year came with Cal's largest margin of victory since the Bears defeated UCLA, 7-0, at home last October. The Bears also logged their largest road margin since taking down Hawaii, 5-1 last August in Honolulu.

Cal produced a balanced attack against Texas Tech (3-1-1), as four different Bears found the net, including three in the first half. Senior forward Arielle Ship wasted no time getting Cal on the board after heading home her first goal of the year 3:09 into the game off an assist from junior forward Heather Walleigh. Sophomore foward Miranda Nild followed suit ten minutes later (14') to net an unassisted tally from the middle of the box - her first of the campaign. Redshirt junior midfielder Kelly Fitzgerald extended her goal streak to three games by converting on a penalty kick (33') for the second straight game.

The second half saw more of the same, as senior midfielder Emma Fletcher scored her first of the year (63') after beginnig the scoring sequence with a corner kick. Fletcher was extremely excited after the game when asked about the goal - the first of her career. "It felt great to finally get on the board for my team," Fletcher said. "We had an awesome team performance today and I'm looking forward for the rest of the season."

Junior goalkeeper recorded another shuout, making three saves to go 4-for-4 on clean sheets in Cal victories. With 19 shutouts to her credit over her career, Boyd is now one shy of a tie with Mary Harvey (1983-86) and Ashley Sulprizio (2002-05) for 4th place all-time in Cal history.

The performance was the early season highlight of head coach Neil McGuire's deliberate attacking style this season. Cal came into tonight's match outshooting its opponents by nearly ten shots (16.3 to 6.5) but hadn't scored more than two goals against any opponent. 

Doubling that season total in tonight's game, against a top flight program, is a sign that the Bears are heading in the right direction.

NEXT UP
Cal will complete its Texas trip with a match against the University of Texas on Sunday, September 4 at 9 a.m. in Austin.