Cal Women's Soccer at Pepperdine Open Thread

When: 1 PM PT

Where: Malibu, CA

Online: Pepperdine Videos

Livestats: Gametracker

Game Updates: @CalWomensSoccer

With a 3-1 Win over UC Irvine, Cal Women's Soccer (or if you like Cal Athletics in this Fall 2013 season) is perfect so far in the very young season. You can see the first two goals of the season via the links in the tweets below:

Post Game Interview at UC Irvine (3-1 win) https://t.co/ug6Kn2Zlh2

— Cal Women's Soccer (@CalWomensSoccer) August 24, 2013

Goal #1 from last night! https://t.co/M8leBDvxja

— Cal Women's Soccer (@CalWomensSoccer) August 24, 2013

Goal #2 from last night! https://t.co/7epNWvx0UV

— Cal Women's Soccer (@CalWomensSoccer) August 24, 2013

Bears triumphed 1-0 over the Pepperdine Waves in the first round of NCAA action last year, ending the Waves' season. Fast forward to the end of August, the Bears will be the first official game for the Waves in their 2013 campaign (Waves' game against Cal Poly was only an exhibition). The Bears open the year ranked 18/20 in the preseason poll, can they stay in the ranking by beating an almost ranked Pepperdine team?

Quick recap of the 1-0 Cal victory from CalBears.com:

Ariana Martinez scored her biggest goal as a Golden Goal when she pounced on a loose ball in the box and scored in the 87th minute to lead California to a 1-0 win over Pepperdine in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

With overtime looming, junior midfielder/forward Lauren Battung crossed the ball into the box, and Martinez, on the near post, whiffed on her initial shot attempt. A defender tried to clear the ball, but Martinez beat her to it and fired past a diving Roxanne Barker at 86:02. The Wave goalie had made seven saves to stymie Cal to that point, but she couldn't stop Martinez's second goal and first gamewinner of the season.

Bulk (24 of 37 goals scored) of the Pepperdine offense has returned, can Cal goalie Emily Kruger stifle them again?

GO BEARS!