Cal Poly Women’s Soccer maintained the No. 1 seed in the Big West after a 2-1 win over the University of Hawai’i on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the Waipi’o Peninsula Soccer Complex.
The Mustangs (8-6-3, 6-2-1 Big West) have already clinched a postseason spot in the Big West Championships but are fighting to hold onto the top seed.
If the Mustangs win the rest of their games, they will win their third straight Big West regular season title and host the semifinals and championship match in the conference tournament.
Currently, Cal State Fullerton sits one point behind the Mustangs (19 points), and UC Davis sits two points behind.
The Rainbow Wahine currently sits in a two-way tie for fifth place with UC Irvine at 13 points.
In the first half of the game, both teams put multiple shots on goal, but neither team could find the back of the net.
The first half ended scoreless with the Rainbow Wahine’s senior goalkeeper Sophie Augustin coming up with three saves while Mustangs’ junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Samuel saved four shots.
The tie did not last long in the second half, with the Rainbow Wahine scoring 1:28 into the second half, taking a 1-0 lead. Rainbow Wahine’s Fabiola Zamora had a pass that went past Cal Poly’s backline, and sophomore forward Cate Sheahan chased it down to put it into the back of the net.
After Hawai’i scored, the Mustangs changed their formation to a 4-2-4 to put more pressure up front
In the 84th minute, the adjustment paid off as the Mustangs capitalized on a corner kick. Senior forward Olivia Ortiz blasted a ball from a distance over the Rainbow Wahine’s goalkeeper.
This was Ortiz’s 12th career goal and second on the season. Additionally, it was also the ninth latest equalizing goal in program history.
Only 32 seconds after Ortiz’s goal, the Mustangs’ senior midfielder Kate Reedy received a ball near midfield and then attacked the Rainbow Wahine backline, and then drilled a shot into the top corner.
Reedy’s goal gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead with about five minutes remaining in the match.
For Reedy, this was her third game-winner goal of the season which is the most among Big West players. It was also her fifth goal of the year as she leads the teams in goals scored.
The 32 seconds between the Mustangs tying goal and winning goal was the second quickest in program history.
The Mustangs this season has had fourteen different players score, which is tied for the second most in program history.
Cal Poly has improved their series against the University of Hawai’i to 10-1-3.
The Mustangs are looking to get their final win of the regular season on Thursday at 7 p.m. against UC San Diego at Mustang Memorial Field.
The Big West Championship starts October 29th. The third seed hosts and will play against the sixth seed. The fourth seed hosts and plays against the fifth seed. The top two seeds earn byes and will play on November 2nd with the No. 1 seed hosting. The championship is on November 5th.