BERKELEY – The Cal women's soccer team started the 2018 campaign in thrilling fashion, defeating Utah Valley University, 3-0, on Friday afternoon at Goldman Field at Edwards Stadium. Playing their first competitive match in nine month, the Golden Bears (1-0-0) put together an impressive performance in the first half, scoring all three of the game's goals in the opening 45 minutes. Junior striker Abi Kim got the Bears on the board in the 11^th minute while Caroline Clark and Jordyn Elliott followed suit shortly thereafter, scoring the first goals of their college careers. Cal's three goals matched the team's single-game high from last season while also giving the Bears their 17^th consecutive win at home in non-conference play.

Energized for the first match of the season, the Bears midfield and forwards pressed the Wolverines (0-1-0) from the jump. That effort was soon rewarded as midfielder Luca Deza picked up the ball in the midfield and found Kim on the right side of the box. Kim, who recently returned from playing with the United States' Women's National Team at the Under-20 FIFA Women's World Cup, fired and beat Utah Valley goalkeeper Sarah Davis to the far post. Kim was tied for the team lead in scoring last season with seven goals while Deza led the Bears in assists last season as a freshman.

Clark doubled Cal's advantage less than eight minutes later with a great individual effort on the left wing. The sophomore midfielder cut inside and ripped a shot into the far corner for her first goal in a Golden Bear uniform. Clark had three assists last season as freshman and appeared in all 20 matches during the 2017 campaign.

Cal closed out the scoring in the 41^st minute with Elliott converting from close range off after junior Mia Corbin found freshman Renee Thomas on the right wing. Thomas played a driven ball into the box that found an on-rushing Elliott for the one-time finish.
 
"It felt amazing, it was honestly just a blur," said Elliott of her first collegiate goal. "I'm happy I was able to get my foot on the ball and find the back of the net, and hope to do it again. I think everyone was really fired up with this being the first game of the season. We came out super energetic and really wanted to make a mark from the very start."

Cal outshot Utah Valley, 10-2, in the opening half and 16-8 overall on the afternoon. Corner kicks were tied a five apiece.

While the second half lacked the goal-scoring excitement of the first, both teams had their chances in the attacking half. The Wolverines rattled off six shots in the second half, while both teams had several dangerous opportunities off of set pieces. Elliott nearly added her second of the match in the 82^nd minute, forcing Utah Valley's Brooklyn Nielsen into a diving save to her right on a close-range attemp.

Defensively, the Bears proved up to the task of stopping an experience and energized Utah Valley side and posted their first clean sheet of the season. Goalkeeper Olivia Sekany earned the shutout in her collegiate debut, making one save and coming off her line well on several dangerous balls played into the box. After graduating several key defensive players from last season, Friday's clean sheet was an important building block for this young Bears squad.

"It feels great to get the win and to get the shutout," said sophomore defender Emily Smith, an All-Region and All-Pac-12 honoree in 2017. "It's definitely a confidence booster and starts us out on the right foot. Moving forward, we know we definitely have things to improve upon but now we also know what it takes to get a shutout and can just keep building from there."

The Bears will look to build on Friday's success when they head to the South Bay for their first road game of the season, taking on Santa Clara at 7:30 p.m. PT on Monday, August 20. One of the longest standing rivalries in women's soccer history, the Bay Area Derby dates back to the 1982 season with Cal holding a 21-18-7 advantage in the all-time series. The Golden Bears and Broncos split their two meetings last season, with each side picking up a 2-1 victory.

Cal's next home match will be Friday, August 24, when the Golden Bears host Harvard at 2:30 p.m. PT.

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).