BERKELEY – The California men's soccer team begins its new season on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the first of two Big Clasico games against Pac-12 rival Stanford this spring. The Golden Bears and Cardinal (2-0) – a 2019 College Cup semifinalist – will play their conference game on Witter Rugby Field, which is Cal's home for the 2021 spring season.
 
Cal and Stanford will play each other in another conference clash at Stanford on March 24.
 
Due to local COVID-19 protocols, fans are not permitted to attend Cal's home games. Fans can follow Saturday's game via live stats by clicking here and by following updates on Twitter @CalMSoc.
 
Head coach Kevin Grimes leads a Cal team that posted an 8-7-3 record and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. The Bears closed that regular season with a 1-0 upset of then-No. 4 Stanford on the Farm, with future MLS SuperDraft pick Tommy Williamson scoring the gamewinning goal. Earlier in the season, Jonathan Estrada scored for the Bears in Cal's 2-1 loss to the Cardinal in Berkeley.
 
Taylor Davila Goes Pro
Taylor Davila, who would have been playing his junior season for Cal this year, recently signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy II professional club and will play with his new team in the USL Championship. Cal has 14 former Bears in the pro ranks including goalkeeper Drake Callender, Davila's former Cal teammate who's now with Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF.
 
The talented Davila, now 20, earned a spot on the All-Pac-12 first team and on the United Soccer Coach's All-Far West Region first team after a strong sophomore season in which he helped lead Cal to the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He started every game for Cal in 2018 and 2019.
 
Evan Davila, Taylor's brother, is a freshman midfielder on the current Cal team.
 
About the Bears

• Tommy Williamson, Cal's 2019 leading scorer with nine goals and 18 points, returns for his senior season
• A forward named to the 2019 All-Pac-12 second team, Williamson was chosen by the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft in January
• Alonzo Del Mundo, a junior forward, paced the Bears and tied for the Pac-12 lead in assists (9) and tied for second in scoring (13 points) in 2019
• Jonathan Estrada, a junior forward, also posted 13 points (5 goals, 3 assists) as a sophomore
• Francisco Perez, a junior midfielder, was fifth on the team with 12 points (2 goals, 6 assists) as a sophomore
• Three of the four Bears who formed Cal's strong defense in 2019 are back in All-Pac-12 honorees JJ Foe Nuphaus, Christopher Grey and Ian Lonergan
• Kevin Grimes, Cal's all-time leader with 204 victories, is in his 21st season as head coach

About the Cardinal

• Stanford defeated Pacific, 4-0, in its Feb. 12 opener and then beat San Francisco, 5-0, on Monday
• All-America goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made one save vs. Pacific in less than 83 minutes of work; he wasn't called on to make any saves in almost 81 minutes against the Dons
• Forward Gabe Segal scored the gamewinner against the Tigers
• Midfielder/defender Keegan Tingey netted the winner and had two assists vs. the Dons
• Jeremy Gunn is in his ninth season as Stanford's head coach

Poll Position
The United Soccer Coaches have yet to produce rankings for the spring.
 
Next Time
Cal hosts 2019 NCAA quarterfinalist Washington on Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. in another Pac-12 battle at Witter Rugby Field.