SANTA CLARA – The latest chapter in the Cal-Santa Clara rivalry went to the hosts, as the 19^th-ranked Broncos topped Cal, 4-1, on Monday night at Stevens Stadium. Santa Clara (2-0-0) used a pair of goals in each half to hand Cal (1-1-0) its first loss of the season. Kayla Fong tallied her first goal of the season, finding the back of the net in the 79^th minute off an assist from Mia Corbin.

In a hard-fought match that saw a total of 28 fouls and seven cards handed out, it was Santa Clara who struck first, scoring the game's opening goal in the 12^th minute. Broncos' forward­­­­ Maria Sanchez served a corner kick into the box that found DB Pridham rushing in on the goal and the midfielder headed it home for her ­­­first goal of the season.

Cal seemed primed to level the score right away, as Emma Westin got a good­­­ look at goal after the ensuing kickoff, but her shot was turned away with a diving save from Santa Clara goalkeeper Marissa Lowder.

The Broncos continued to test the Bears backline throughout the half and doubled their lead just seconds before halftime, when Kelcie Hedge scored off a header in the 45^th minute off another service from Sanchez. Santa Clara outshot Cal, 10-1, in the opening half with a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.

Santa Clara added to its advantage early in the second half, when Maddy Gonzalez converted on a diving header off an endline service from Pridham. The Broncos scored less than two minutes later off a backpost header from reigning WCC Freshman of the Year Kelsey Turnbow.

Despite the deficit, the Golden Bears continued to battle and were rewarded for their efforts when Fong was brought down near the top of the box on her way in on goal. Santa Clara defender Natalie Kennedy was shown a red card and the Bears were awarded a free kick from just outside the box. Corbin cracked a shot on frame that was saved by Courtney Ogren, but the rebound went right to Fong, who put promptly put it away. It was the first goal of the season and second career tally for Fong, while Corbin picked up her second assist in as many games.

The Bears held the Broncos to just four shots in the second half while goalkeeper Olivia Sekany finished the night with a career-high four saves.

The Bears will now return to Berkeley for a three-game homestand, kicking off on Friday at 2:30 p.m. PT vs Harvard. This will be the second meeting all-time between the teams, with the Golden Bears beating the Crimson, 2-1, in September 2013 at San Francisco's Negoesco Stadium. Harvard will be playing its first match of the 2018 season, after going 8-8-1 last season and finishing sixth in the Ivy League. Friday's match also marks the first of six doubleheaders for the Cal men's and women's soccer teams, with the Golden Bear men hosting Detroit Mercy at 5 p.m. PT in their season opener.

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