SANTA-CLARA – Experienced striker Karlie Lema scored her third goal of the season on Sunday afternoon, but the California women’s soccer team lost 2-1 away to No. 22 Santa Clara.
The Golden Bears’ first loss of the season leaves their record at 1-1-0, while the Broncos improve their record to 2-0-0. Santa Clara won the shooting duel 12-9, having four shots on goal.
The Broncos took the lead in the 16th minute on a corner kick. Tori Powell scored the goal, redirecting the ball from the right corner to give Santa Clara a 1-0 lead.
In the 42nd minute, the Bears committed a foul in the box, which resulted in a penalty for the home team. Kat Jordan stepped up and converted, extending Santa Clara’s lead to 2-0.
The Bears had a few good chances and tried to get close to the Broncos goal a few times, but were unable to get any of their shots on goal in the first half.
Santa Clara captain Sally Menti received her second yellow card of the game in the 68th minute, resulting in a red card that forced the Broncos to play with one less person for the rest of the afternoon.
From that point on, the Bears increased the offensive pressure and held on to the attacking third, but were unable to convert and finished the game without a single shot on goal. One of Cal’s runs on goal ended with Julia Leontini In the 84th minute he was fouled in the penalty area. Lema took the penalty and converted it to make it 2-1.
84′ – Lema scores her 3rd goal of the season with a penalty!
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Cal – 1#GoBears ?? pic.twitter.com/ATXDWLNttJ— Cal Women’s Soccer (@CalWSoc) 18 August 2024
The Bears continued to play aggressively in the final six minutes but were unable to equalize.
Lema finished the match with three strokes and Leontini and Velize King everyone had a pair.l Goalkeeper Teagan Wy went from start to finish and made two saves.
With the first of three consecutive WCC matchups in the books, Cal now returns home to host Gonzaga on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. before heading across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco on Sunday at 5 p.m.
