BERKELEY - With a perfect start through its first seven matches of the season, the Cal women's soccer team looks to close out the non-conference campaign in similar fashion, hosting UC Riverside and Portland this weekend at Edwards Stadium. The Golden Bears (7-0-0, 0-0-0 Pac-12) are off to the program's best start since 2000 and ranked No. 21 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll. They will host UC Riverside (2-4-0, 0-0-0 Big West) at 2 p.m. PT on Friday to kick off the weekend before taking on Portland (2-2-2, 0-0-0 WCC) at 12 p.m. PT Sunday in Cal's final match before beginning Pac-12 play.

Coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bay Area rival Santa Clara the last time out, the Bears look to continue their hot start. Cal enters the weekend as one of only eight teams in Division I women's soccer off to a perfect start to the season and boasts the top defense in the nation with a 0.143 goals against average. The Golden Bears were the last team in the country to allow a goal this season and posted six consecutive shutouts to start the year before Bronco's striker Izzy D'Aquila snapped the streak in the 63rd minute of Sunday's game. Cal's deep and experienced backline has been led by junior captain Emily Smith, the two-time reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. Smith and Cal's defense have limited opponents to just the one goal on the year and have conceded only 11 total shots on goal this season, the second-fewest by any team in the nation. Freshman Angelina Anderson has impressed in goal in her first season in Berkeley, and was voted the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week after a stellar performance last weekend. Anderson, who ranks among the national leaders in shutouts, save percentage, and goals against average, posted her fifth clean sheet in Cal's win over UC Irvine and came up with a critical save in the 79^th minute on Sunday against Santa Clara to preserve Cal's lead.

On the other side of the pitch, there has been no slowing junior forward/midfielder Emma Westin. The Swedish international leads the Bears in scoring with seven goals in seven games this season. Westin played a hand in all three goals for the Bears last weekend and is tied for second in the conference in scoring. After netting the game-winner in Friday's 1-0 win at UC Irvine, Westin put the Bears ahead with just seconds left in the first half of Sunday's game vs Santa Clara and set up freshman Natalie Hueston's game-wining goal in the 79^th minute, with a slashing run through the box.

While Westin leads the Bears in scoring on the year, Cal's attack has been well-balanced, with six different players finding the back of the net this season. A total of ten players have recorded at least one point on the year, and 11 of the Bears' 16 goals have been assisted.

FOLLOW THE ACTION
Live stats for Friday's game at UC Riverside are available, while Sunday's non-conference finale against Portland will be carried live on Pac-12 Networks with Kate Scott. A live stream and live stats will be available for both matches this weekend, with in-game updates also provided on the Bears' Twitter (@CalWSoc) and Instagram (@CalWSoc) accounts. 

SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
After opening the season with a four-game losing streak, the Highlanders have found their way into the win column and head to Berkeley with back-to-back wins. UC Riverside picked up its first victory of the 2019 campaign on September 8, topping Houston, 1-0, in a neutral site matchup. Junior Alexis Vera came through with the decisive penalty kick in the 88^th minute to snap the four-game skid.  

UCR followed it up with another win its last time out, topping Idaho, 1-0, on Friday. Sophomore Brianna Saldana netted the game-winner in the 38^th minute and freshman goalkeeper Caela Kaio made a season-high six saves in the shutout win.

Vera leads the Highlanders with three points on the season, recording a goal and an assist. Kaio and senior Annie Bailey have both seen time in goal this season, with Kaio starting the last three matches and entering the weekend with back-to-back clean sheets.  

Head coach Nat Gonzalez is in his eighth season as head coach of the Highlanders and was named the Big West Coach of the Year in 2013. The Highlanders went 11-4-3 last season and went unbeaten through their first 12 matches of the season.

Friday's game will be just the second meeting all-time between the schools. The Bears and Highlanders last met in 2015, a 1-0 win for Cal in Berkeley behind a strike by senior Samantha Witteman.

SCOUTING THE PILOTS
Portland heads to Bay Area coming off a pair over overtime games last weekend. The Pilots opened the weekend with a 2-2 double-overtime draw at Oregon before suffering a 3-2 setback against Seattle U on Sunday, falling on a goal in the 91^st minute.
Portland went unbeaten through its first two matches of the season, picking up a draw against Washington and a win over New Mexico before suffering its first loss of the season against then-No. 2 North Carolina. UP bounced back with a 2-1 win over Denver, led by a pair of assists from Taryn Ries and a game winner by MJ Roe in the 47^th minute.

Ries, a junior forward and All-WCC performer last season, leads the team with seven points this season on two goals and three assists. Roe, a freshman forward, has two goals and an assist on the year. Freshman Jenny Wahlen has played every minute in goal this season and brings extensive experience with the Swedish youth national teams. Anja Koehler, a 2019 Cal graduate, has made six appearance for the Pilots this season in the midfield. Koehler played for the Bears from 2016-19 and served as a team captain as a senior. She is utilizing her final season of eligibility while pursuing a masters in business administration.

Head coach Michelle French is in her second season as head coach of the Pilots, returning to her alma mater after leading the Pilots to three NCAA Final Four appearances as a player. She returns eight starters and 17 letterwinners from last season's squad that went 11-9-0.

French is assisted by Cal Athletics Hall of Famer Maite Zabala, who is in her second season on staff with the Pilots. Zabala played for the Golden Bears from 1997-2000, helping Cal to three NCAA Tournament appearances and the Pac-10 title in 1998. A standout in goal, Zabala finished her Cal career with 277 career saves and 24 shutouts, both of which stood as program records for over a decade. Following the conclusion of her professional playing career, Zabala returned to Berkeley and coached on the Golden Bear staff for five seasons.

In addition to Zabala, another goalkeeping connection exists between the two programs. Cal assistant coach Cori Callahan was an All-American at UP, playing for the Pilots from 2003-06. Callahan led the Pilots to an NCAA Championship in 2005, where she was also named the NCAA Tournament Defensive MVP. A Scholar All-American as well, Callahan is still Portland's career leader in shutouts (39) and saves (263).

Sunday's game will be the 14^th meeting all-time between Cal and Portland, with UP holding a slim 6-5-2 edge in the series. The Golden Bears won the most recent matchup between the schools, a 1-0 victory in Berkeley in 2016.

Prior to Sunday's game against the Bears, the Pilots will take on San Jose State at 7 p.m. to open the weekend. Portland is 0-0-2 on the road this season, with double-overtime draws against Pac-12 foes Washington (0-0, 2OT) and Oregon (2-2, 2OT).  

NEXT UP
Following the weekend's action, the Bears will head to Los Angeles to kick off conference play. Cal and No. 5 UCLA (5-1-0, 0-0-0 Pac-12) will square off on Friday, September 27 at  7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks. The Golden Bears are a perfect 3-0-0 on the road this season while the Bruins are unbeaten at home on the season.

2019 TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets are now on sale for the 2019 Cal women's soccer season. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, and $5 for youth. Cal students and staff receive free admission with a valid ID and entry is free for ages 13 and below Monday through Thursday. New this season to Edwards Stadium, fans can purchase group tickets ahead of time on CalBears.com which will be available for will call pickup for a $3 charge. For more information, call the Gold Standard Sales and Service line at (800) GO BEARS (462-3277) or visit the CalBears.com ticket page.

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).