California
Santa Clara
11/9/2017 9:05 PM | Women's Soccer
NCAA Tournament: First Round
No. 19 Cal vs Santa Clara
Saturday, Nov. 11 | 1:30 PM PT | Edwards Stadium | Berkeley, Calif.
GAME NOTES | LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TICKETS
BERKELEY – The most recent clash between the California and Santa Clara women's soccer teams saw the Golden Bears pull out a dramatic 2-1 victory at home in the opening weekend of the 2017 season. The Bay Area rivals will meet again on Saturday with a spot in the Second Round of NCAA Tournament on the line. The Bears (13-5-1, 6-4-1 Pac-12) will host the Broncos (13-6-1, 8-1-0 WCC) at Edwards Stadium at 1:30 p.m. PT in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
Two of the most experience programs in NCAA Tournament history, Cal and Santa Clara have made a combined 52 NCAA Tournament appearances, the most by any pairing in the First Round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Golden Bears are making their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and the 25th overall, tied for fifth in women's Division I soccer history. Santa Clara will be making its 27th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, tied for third all-time.
Saturday's match will be the sixth meeting all-time between the Bears and Broncos in the NCAA Tournament and the latest installment in a rivalry that dates back to 1982. Cal leads the overall series between the schools 21-17-7, including a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Broncos on August 20, in which Cal scored twice in the final 10 minutes for the come-from-behind victory. Sophomore striker Abi Kim tallied the equalizer in the 80th minute and redshirt senior Kelly Fitzgerald converted a penalty kick in the 89th minute to secure the win for Cal.
Santa Clara has had the upper hand in the postseason, holding a 3-1-1 advantage over the Bears in the NCAA Tournament. The Bay Area rivals last met in the NCAA Tournament in 2013, a 2-1 win for the Broncos at Buck Shaw Stadium behind a goal from Sofia Huerta in the 70th minute.
This will be just the second time the teams have met in Berkeley in the NCAA Tournament and the first since 2000. The Golden Bears have made the tournament every year since 2004 and will be hosting a first round match up for the third time in the last four seasons. The Golden Bears hosted LMU in the First Round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament and also played their opening game at home in 2014, beating San Diego State, 3-2, in double overtime to advance to the Second Round. Cal played its First Round match on the road last season, playing Pepperdine to a 1-1 draw in double overtime. The Waves advanced to the second round on penalties, 3-2.
Battle-tested after Pac-12 play, the Golden Bears are ready for the postseason and are looking to advance to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014.
"It's always a fun to be a part of the NCAA tournament and it's a really exciting time of the year," said senior defender Indigo Gibson, a First team All-Pac-12 selection. "Santa Clara is a big rival and always a really tough game. But we just need to keep doing what we do, stay strong, and take it one game at the time."
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats and a live stream will be available for Saturday's match, both of which will be hosted through the NCAA GameCenter. Fans can also keep up with the action by following live stats and the Bears' Twitter (@CalWSoc) and Instagram (@CalWSoc) accounts.
Tickets for Saturday's NCAA match are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and youth (grades K-12). Admission is $5 for all Cal students with a valid student ID. Tickets can be purchased online in advance to be printed at home and presented at the gate on game day. For more information on tickets, please call 1-800-GO-BEARS.
A LOOK AT THE BEARS
Ranked 19th in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, the Golden Bears finished fifth in the Pac-12 and were one of seven teams from the conference to make the 2017 NCAA Tournament. One of the top defensive teams in the nation, Cal ranks 10th nationally with a 0.465 goals against average and is one of only three teams in all of Division I soccer that has held its opponents to one goal or fewer in every game this season.
Cal's defense has been led by a pair of First Team All-Pac-12 selections in center back Indigo Gibson and goalkeeper Emily Boyd. The program's all-time leader in shutouts (36) and saves (290), Boyd was the named the 2017 Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Year, the first player in program history to ever earn that distinction. Gibson, a senior from Las Flores, California, has played every minute for the Bears this season, helping Cal to 10 clean sheets.
Four other Golden Bears earned All-Conference recognition, when the Pac-12 Awards were announced earlier in the week. Sophomore striker Abi Kim earned Second Team honors while Fitzgerald and freshman back Emily Smith earned Third Team recognition. Smith and rookie midfielder Luca Deza collected Pac-12 All-Freshman honors.
Offensively, the Bears have received production from all over the roster, with 12 different players tallying at least one goal this season. Kim, a sophomore from Vashon, Washington, leads Cal with seven goals on the year followed by six goals from junior forward Miranda Nild. Deza has a team-high four assists to go with two goals of her own.
A LOOK AT THE BRONCOS
Santa Clara (13-6-1, 8-1 WCC) finished second in the West Coast Conference this season and enters the NCAA Tournament on a seven-game winning streak. The Broncos capped off the regular season with a 4-3 win over BYU in a back-and-forth affair that saw five goals in the first half of play.
Santa Clara's offense is led by WCC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Turnbow, who finished second in the conference in scoring with 12 goals and added five assists. Sophomore Maddy Gonzalez has eight goals on the season and tallied Santa Clara's goal ealier this season against Cal. Maria Sanchez leads the Broncos with six assists and has four goals of her own on the year.
Goalkeeper Melissa Lowder has seen the majority of minutes for the Broncos this season, posting a 10-4-0 record with four shutouts.
NEXT UP
The winner of Saturday's match will advance to the Second Round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Golden Bears last reached the second round in 2014 while the Broncos made a run to the tournament quarterfinals last season.
STAY POSTED
Keep up-to-date on the Golden Bears throughout the year by following the team on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).
For updates and behind-the-scenes looks at the team, follow the Golden Bears throughout the year on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).
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