BERKELEY– For the first time this season the California women's soccer team won back-to-back matches defeating Syracuse 1-0 in its ACC home opener at Edwards Stadium on Thursday. This is the second straight shutout win for the Golden Bears who have now gone unbeaten in eight consecutive matches.
 
Cal (6-1-5) started its second ACC campaign the same way it began its inaugural season last year posting a 2-0-1 conference record. In another parallel to the historic 2024 season, the Bears have just one loss through their first dozen contests this year.
 
The Bears put the pressure on the Orange (4-4-4, 0-3-1 ACC) throughout the entirety of the match, seeing promising chances on many of their nine first-half shots but did not breakthrough until the second period.
 
In the 64th minute, junior Soleil Dimry played a ball into the penalty area for Elhom Khursand. Despite trailing by a full step, the Cal freshman raced past the sole Syracuse defender to win the ball and drive it baseline towards the goal. By this time Dimry had dived into the 18-yard yard box where Khursand perfectly centered the ball for a tap-in, go-ahead goal that would stand as the game winner.
 
It was Dimry's second goal of the season and first in the run of play having scored a penalty kick in the season opener. Khursand is now tied for the team lead with two assists and is fourth with four points.
 
Senior goalkeeper Teagan Wy had four saves in her career-high tying fifth shutout of the season. She and the Bears have now gone over 202 straight minutes without allowing a goal. Wy now ranks second in the ACC with 47 saves trailing only the keeper she defeated today, Syracuse's Shea Vanderbosch, who had six today and is up to 56 on the year.
 
Cal won the shot battle for the eighth time this season and did so by a wide margin of 16-5. Seven of those 16 were put on frame.
 
The Bears are back at Edwards Stadium this Sunday for their MS Awareness match with Boston College. The team has partnered with Mission Stadiums for Multiple Sclerosis (MS4MS) to raise funds and awareness for the disease. The match will feature specialty food items, a post-meet autograph session with the Golden Bears, as well as an online silent auction with autographed professional jerseys and balls from many former Cal players, NWSL players, and the world's all-time international goals leader, Christine Sinclair.
 
MS4MS has started an event page where donations can be made to help the team reach its fundraising goal of $5,000. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. and admission is free.