After coming off of four away games where they defeated their opponents, the California University of Pennsylvania women’s soccer team is ecstatic to come back on home turf for their last two games. The first game against the number one ranked team in the country, Gannon, ended with the Vulcans dropping a tough 1-0 contest to the Golden Knights. Despite losing, Cal showed they can hang with the number one team in the country.

    Those are the final two games of the regular season, which means the post season is coming up. For the playoffs, the top eight teams in the PSAC move on. California now sits in ninth with a 7-5-3 PSAC record and an overall record of 8-6-3 which makes the last game against Lock Haven even larger. Senior midfielder Kara Novotny is confident that the team will advance in the playoffs. “The team went through a struggle mid-season, however we have started to turn things around as a team. I have faith that we will win out the rest of our season with our final two games in conference approaching.”

    With the final games being played at home. Novotny believes the home field play is a “huge advantage for us.  Especially because we need to win out in order to clinch a seat in playoffs.  I have faith that we will accomplish this goal.” Junior goalkeeper Meghan Jayes echoed Novotny’s excitement about the home field advantage, and even added that the men’s rugby team has “been to many of our games and cheered us on through both victorious triumphs and sullen defeats. I’m definitely looking forward to playing at home.”

    The home field advantage is not the only thing boosting the confidence of Jayes and Novotny. After coming off of four road wins against Millersville, Mercyhurst, Ohio Dominican, and Pitt-Johnstown, the ladies agree that change was what got them those wins. “We had to switch things up to get back on track,” Jayes says, recalling the mid-season slump that had Cal U losing or tying six games in a row. “Formations changed, players changed, even the mentality changed, and the results changed with them. Winning definitely does help a team get out of a rut, which was what the girls and I were experiencing.”

    The play of Jayes and Novotny has certainly helped the team as well. Jayes has posted five shut outs so far this year. However, just like the mentality of most goalkeepers are, Jayes wishes she had some more. “If I’m being honest, I wish I had more this season. There is the personal pride that comes with it, but more importantly I feel like a shutout is the clear-cut indicator that I’m doing my job well,” she said. Novotny has four goals this year, with one recently from the match against Mercyhurst, and has only one assist from the match against Ohio Dominican. Novotny says she hopes to contribute more in the attacking end in the last two matches.

    Now one game stands in the Vulcans way of the playoffs. Being one point behind sixth place, Cal must defeat Lock Haven on Senior Day to sneak in the PSAC playoffs.