BERKELEY -  A second half goal off a set piece proved to be the difference on Friday afternoon, as the Cal women's soccer team fell to Washington, 1-0, in the Bears' conference home opener at Edwards Stadium. Huskies striker Makena Carr grabbed the game's only goal in the 71st minute, finishing off a well-executed free kick to give the visitors from Washington the win. The Huskies improve to 2-0-0 in conference play and 6-2-2 overall, while the Golden Bears are now 9-2-0 on the season and have split their first two matches of Pac-12 play.  Cal generated several promising chances throughout the match, but was held scoreless for just the second time this season.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the result, but credit to Washington, [Huskies head coach Lesle Gallimore], and their coaching staff for putting together a good plan," said Cal head coach Neil McGuire. "There's no doubt we need to turn around quickly. We'll look to see what we did well today and things we need to improve on as we prepare for a very good team next in Washington State."

Both teams entered the midweek matchup looking to pick up another three points in the conference standings. Yet in the first few minutes of the match, it was the visitors from Seattle who had the most success getting into the attack and generating chances. Huskies striker Vanessa Milsap got a good luck on goal in the third minute, but was denied by a diving effort from Cal goalkeeper Angelina Anderson. Washington earned six of its 10 corner kicks on the afternoon in the opening 20 minutes of the match, but Anderson and the Bears' backline provided up to the task. Anderson, a freshman from Danville, California, made a career-high five saves on the afternoon while Siena Ruelas made two saves for Washington in the win.

The Huskies had a promising chance in the waning seconds of the first half, but their attempt off a corner did not beat the halftime horn and the teams went into the locker room tied 0-0.

Just minutes into the second half, Washington's Ameera Hussen put a well-struck ball off the woodwork and the rebound fell to Millsaps, but Anderson was there for the save on the close-range attempt. Cal had a dangerous opportunity when senior striker Abi Kim was fouled on her way into the box, setting up a free kick for the Golden Bears from just outside of 18-yards. Junior midfielder Luca Deza, who scored the opening goal in Cal's win over No. 7 UCLA in the conference opener, took the look, but her short curved over the bar.

Washington broke through with the game's only goal less than five minutes later, after earning a free kick just inside of midfield. Redshirt senior Taylor Sekyra served a dangerous ball into the box, where Huskies midfielder Olivia Van der Jagt was able to a get a head on it first, flicking it to Carr for the one-touch finish. Carr's goal was her second of the season and just the fifth Cal has allowed all year.

The Bears pressed for an equalizer, but were unable to break through. Deza got her head onto a cross from close range in the 78^th minute, but it went right to Ruelas.

Washington came away with the win, it what was a homecoming game for Huskies head coach Lesle Gallimore. A four-time All-American at Cal and member of the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame, the 2019 season marks Gallimore's last as head coach of the Huskies, capping off a stellar 26-season run.

The Bears will be back in action on Sunday, hosting No. 14 Washington State (8-1-0, 1-0-0 Pac-12) at 12 p.m. PT at Edwards Stadium. The Cougars kick off their Bay Area trip in the south bay, taking on Stanford at 8 p.m. PT on Thursday night.

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