BERKELEY -  The win streak continues! The Cal women's soccer team continued its perfect start to the 2019 season, topping UC Riverside, 2-0, on Friday afternoon at Edwards' stadium. The Golden Bears (8-0-0, 0-0-0 Pac-12) prevailed behind an own goal and the first collegiate goal from junior centerback Emily Smith, who scored off a header in the 46^th minute. With the shutout win, Cal improves to 8-0-0 on the year, tied for the second-best start to a season in program history and one of only six teams six teams in Division I women's soccer that remains perfect on the season. The victory over the Highlanders (2-5-0, 0-0-0 Big West) also marked the 150^th victory at Cal for Bears' head coach Neil McGuire, who is in his 13^th season in Berkeley and holds the program's all-time wins record.

"First, let me credit [UC Riverside head coach Nat Gonzalez] and his team for a good game, and also to our players for coming into this season ready to go, both in terms of their fitness and their mentality," McGuire said after the match. "It's great to see another team win, and getting the chance to use a bunch of different players is always exciting. We hope to continue to do that as the season goes on."

Ranked No. 21 in the nation, the Bears controlled the tempo of the game early on, generating several dangerous opportunities in the opening stages of the match. Junior Emma Westin nearly put the Bears ahead in the 17^th minute, but her strike rattled off the crossbar.

However, Cal's pressure paid off soon thereafter, as the Bears got on the scoreboard first following an own-goal by the Highlanders. Redshirt sophomore Kailee Gifford corralled the ball after a cleared corner kick and found Mia Corbin on the wing. Cal's assist leader this season, Corbin played a dangerous cross into the six-yard box, which a Riverside defender cleared into her own net.

Cal continued to press in the attack, outshooting the Highlanders 15-0 in the first half. Cal also held a 5-0 advantage in cornerkicks, but was unable to add another goal before the halftime whistle. Luca Deza had several promising strikes that just narrowly missed the mark and freshman Lily Arbabaraghi but a strike off the crossbar in the 43^rd minute.

But coming out of the locker room, Cal did not have to wait long to find the back of the net, as Smith added an insurance goal just 45 seconds into the second half. Sophomore Abena Aidoo drew a foul deep in Cal's attacking third in the opening seconds, setting up a free kick for Deza. The junior midfielder served a pinpoint ball into the area, which found Smith waiting on the backpost. She headed it down, beating Highlander goalkeeper Annie Bailey for the first goal of her collegiate career.

A standout at centerback and the back-to-back Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Smith picked up her first collegiate points earlier this season with a pair of assists.

"It was really exciting because we need to pick up our energy, and get the tempo back where wanted it to put away the game," said Smith, who in addition to Friday's goal, leads a Bears' backline that boasts the best goals against average in the nation. "Overall, it was a great team effort. Everyone got a lot of minutes, and we came out with a shutout and the win. Our mindset this season has really just been to prepare for one game at a time, and take what we're doing in training and make that translate in games. We're trusting each other and communicating, and really just trying to go out there every match and take care of business."

 "Emily continues to be an exceptional leader on this team," added McGuire. "For her to get her first college goal today was very exciting." 

The Bears nearly added another goal in the 51^st minute when freshman Natalie Hueston got in behind the Highlanders' backline, but Bailey came up with a brilliant one-on-one save to deny the Bears a third. Bailey finished the game with nine saves while Cal freshman Angelina Anderson – the reigning Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week – made two saves as Cal recorded its seventh shutout of the season.

Cal returns to action on Sunday, hosting Portland (2-2-2. 0-0-0 WCC) at 12 p.m. PT in its non-conference finale. The matchup against the Pilots will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Networks. For more information and updates on the team throughout the season, follow the Bears on Twitter (@CalWSoc), Instagram (@CalWSoc), and Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWSoc).