Abi Kim
Ariel Nava
4
Winner UCLA UCLA (6-3-1, 1-2-0)
0
California CAL (4-6-1, 0-3-0)
Winner
UCLA UCLA
(6-3-1, 1-2-0)
4
Final
0
California CAL
(4-6-1, 0-3-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UCLA UCLA 2 2 4
California CAL 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Cal Athletics

Bears Blanked By Bruins

Cal Drops 4-0 Decision To No. 16 UCLA

BERKELEY – The Cal women's soccer team could not solve UCLA's high-powered offense on Sunday afternoon, falling to the 16th-ranked Bruins, 4-0, at Edwards Stadium. Coming off a hard-fought overtime loss on Thursday afternoon to No. 2 USC, the Golden Bears (4-6-1, 0-3-0 Pac-12) were held scoreless for the second consecutive game while the Bruins (6-3-1, 1-2-0 Pac-12) scored twice in each half. Freshman goalkeeper Amanda Zodikoff made a career-high eight saves in the loss, the most by any Cal goalkeeper this season. Anika Rodriguez scored twice for the Bruins while midfielder Viviana Villacorta finished with a goal and an assist.

"I think what we've learned from this weekend is the level of consistency required to compete at the highest level," said Cal head coach Neil McGuire. "Our performance against USC was one of great energy and effort. Tonight's performance against a very talented UCLA team didn't match that."

With both team's coming off one-goal defeats on Thursday, it was the Bruins who opened the match on the front foot. UCLA outshot Cal, 15-1, in the opening half and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks through the first 45 minutes. Zodikoff did well to keep the visitors off the board in the early stages of the match, making a diving save on an attempt by UCLA forward Ashley Sanchez in the 14th minute and denying Villacorta at the far post just moments later.

Yet the Bruins broke the game open in the 18th minute when Sanchez got endline and played a driven ball into the box. Sunny Dunphy was there for the one-time finish, tallying her first goal of the year.

UCLA doubled its advantage in the 31st minute on Rodriguez' first goal of the afternoon. Midfielder Chloe Castaneda carried the ball into the corner and cut it back to a wide-open Rodriguez near the edge of the box. The senior midfielder teed it up and beat Zodikoff with a skipping shot through traffic.

The Bears had limited opportunities in the attacking third through the first 45 minutes, but game out of the locker room with more bite to begin the second half. Junior striker Abi Kim, who led the Bears with a pair of shots on target, got into the box in the 50th minute and forced UCLA goalkeeper Teagan Micah into a save. Redshirt freshman Lauren Brzykcy started the match for the Bruins while Micah subbed in at halftime and recorded all three saves for UCLA. Shortly after Kim's attempt, midfielder Luca Deza played a dangerous ball behind the Bruins' backline, but it was just beyond the run of sophomore Emma Westin.

UCLA was able to take the momentum back in the 66th minute off a fantastic strike from Villacorta. The sophomore midfielder received the ball 25 yards out and cut her defender before firing off a shot with her left foot that sailed into the upper 90.

The Bruins put the game further out of reach less than ten minutes later with Rodriguez' second goal of the game. Off a pass Villacorta, the senior took a shot from outside the box that was headed low to the corner. Zodikoff got a hand two it, but it redirected off the freshman and into the back of the net.

The Bears will now look to rebound on the road, playing their next three matches away from Berkeley. Cal will take on Oregon State (1-10-0, 0-3-0 Pac-12) on Thursday night in Corvallis, Oregon, before an October 7 meeting in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks (7-3-1, 1-2-0 Pac-12).

For more information and updates on the Golden Bears throughout the year, follow the team on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).

 
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