On Sept. 12, 2024, women’s soccer won their first game of the young season against Wesleyan Bobcats, making their record as 1-1-1. The Vulcans were led by Alicia Green, who scored the only goal of the game. It was a solid start to the season by coach Curtis and the Vulcans, as well as a dominant show as California controlled the game from beginning to end. However, the statistics don’t tell the whole story.
We saw eight shots on goal for both teams, five shots on goal for the Bobcats, six for the Vulcans, and eight corners from both teams as well. The difference was that goalie Emily Ouimet, a senior from Berwick, PA, did not concede a single goal, making it the 11th shutout of her career at California.
A key component in the game of soccer is being able to keep possession. California was able to retain possession of the ball for the vast majority of the game. The Vulcans and the Bobcats played two different games, with California having a formation that favored defensive play and Wesleyan playing the opposite. The Vulcans kept the Bobcats uncomfortable, as barely any shot came from inside the penalty box, which helped contribute to the amount of saves Ouimet had. The cohesiveness between the California players was a breath of fresh air for Vulcan fans everywhere.
The team this season will look to change their fortune from last season as they went 2-13-3 last season. The next three games for the team are all PSAC matchups; Sept. 14 is against the Edinboro Fighting Scots, and Sept. 18 they take on the Griffins of Seton Hill. On Sept. 21, they face the Clarion Golden Eagles.
For all up-to-date information on standings and broadcasting information, please visit calvulcans.com, or the PSAC Conference page, www.psacsports.org, and watch live on CUTVSPORTS1 with CUTV.
