By Cael Cross, November 3, 2026
The No. 21 nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer team took down Fresno Pacific 2-0 at Kellogg Stadium Oct. 23 in a shortened match due to weather.
The referee abruptly stopped the match in the 76th minute after multiple lightning strikes occurred in the areas surrounding Kellogg Stadium. A hailstorm followed minutes after the stoppage and officials called the match off roughly an hour later after determining the pitch conditions were not suitable enough to continue play. The men’s match between the two schools, originally scheduled for 7 p.m. the same day, was also canceled.
Broncos’ midfielder Charlie Gallardo created the first three chances for CPP. Her corner delivery in the second minute forced Sunbirds defender Zoie Lango into a goal-line clearance. Gallardo followed up with a shot attempt in the fourth minute off a cross from defender Georgia Rink and a curling strike from long distance in the fifth minute after a one-two combination with forward Carly Radke, but both efforts were off target.
The Broncos pressed Fresno Pacific’s backline and midfield throughout the first half, forcing turnovers and misplaced passes from the Sunbirds players.
“Our whole practice is centered around pressing the opposition,” Broncos midfielder Sabine Ramos said. “Even before the game, we do a walkthrough on pressing the team, so it’s definitely an important aspect of our preparation before a game.”
Rink, Radke and Ramos all took shots from outside the box after dispossessing Fresno Pacific’s midfielders, but none of the shots were on frame. Gallardo followed suit, blasting a left-footed attempt over the crossbar in the 22nd minute.
Rink created another chance in the 25th minute, dribbling past two Sunbirds defenders and squaring it to Radke just outside the six-yard box, but the shot had too much air underneath it, skying over the goal.
Fresno Pacific caused some chaos in the Broncos’ box through set pieces, forcing clearances from defenders Mikaela Marr and Angelina Santana to keep the Sunbirds off the scoreboard.
CPP broke through in the 29th minute after defender Jenna Santos deflected a pass from Lango, which forward Bailey Guerrero controlled and slid to a trailing Ramos, who put her strike in the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.
“I saw that Bailey was doing really good at getting second balls,” Ramos said. “Once she did get on that second ball and we got possession, I made sure to get myself into a good position to make myself available, and she was able to slip me through.”
Fresno Pacific attempted its first two shots of the match immediately after the goal through forwards Gizelle Aguirre and Bailey Roberson. Aguirre’s 30th minute shot dragged wide of the far post, while Roberson’s 32nd minute attempt darted straight to Broncos’ goalkeeper Parker LaMont.
The Broncos nearly found their second goal in the 36th minute off a scramble in the Sunbirds’ box following a Rink cross. Sunbirds defender Chloe Mortensen cleared the initial ball from Rink, but her header landed directly at forward Morgan Huff. Huff’s header struck straight at Sunbirds’ goalkeeper Brielle Calhoun, who’s parry ricocheted off multiple players, as well as the right post, before defender Julianna Hernandez cleared the ball away.
CPP doubled its lead five minutes later after Guerrero dribbled past Mortensen on the right wing, delivering a cross Gallardo met in the box for a first-time finish at the near post.
Guerrero assisted both goals in the first half off the bench and noted the impact of being able to watch the first few minutes of a match from the sidelines.
“I’m able to have a bit more of a perspective because I get to watch the game for a bit from the bench to see the different areas of the defense to exploit,” Guerrero said. “I think coming on, that helps me a bit so that I know the wide spaces are more open to attack, or maybe a certain defender isn’t as strong, and I can settle it down in front of them and pass it through certain defenders easier.”
Guerrero nearly put herself on the scoresheet in the 43rd minute after latching onto a long ball from Marr, but put her shot over the bar, ending the half.
The Broncos attempted 17 shots in the first half alone, more than 10 different complete matches this season. The last time CPP attempted more shots in a single half was against Cal State San Bernardino in October 2015, attempting 18 in the second half of a 1-1 tie.
Head coach Jay Mason noted the team’s versatility across the attacking line and how it allows them to play in a variety of ways.
“We’re fortunate that we have a variety of players with some different strengths and being able to bring players in and allow them to move around,” Mason said. “Again, just poses different challenges for opponents’ defenses to figure out.”
Rink attempted the first shot of the second half, diverting a left-footed strike off target following a corner.
Fresno Pacific responded with a shot of its own in the 51st minute through Roberson, who dribbled past two Broncos defenders before putting her shot well wide of the goal.
Santos struck a knuckleball toward goal in the 56th minute, which Calhoun pushed away from the bottom left corner. Huff reached the ball following the save, putting another shot on target, but Calhoun saved the second effort with her feet.
Forward Ashlyn Jones created a chance for CPP in the 61st minute, flicking a one-touch pass through two Sunbirds defenders for Radke, but Radke put her shot over the bar.
Radke’s attempt was the last big opportunity by either side before the match stopped in the 76th minute.
The Broncos improved to 9-1-6 overall and 6-1-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association after the win. A 1-0 win over Cal State San Bernardino two days later lifted the Broncos to second in the CCAA table, one point behind Cal State Los Angeles, as well as clinching their spot in the CCAA Tournament, which will be hosted at Kellogg Stadium Nov. 5-8.
CPP outshot Fresno Pacific 24-3, marking the eighth time the Broncos have held their opponents to five or fewer shots.
Mason highlighted the team’s ability to finish chances in the match, especially during a stretch of games where the Broncos have struggled to find the back of the net consistently. CPP has ended five matches without a goal since conference play began in mid-September.
“Scoring goals is definitely not an easy thing to do,” Mason said. “So to see them get rewarded for that work obviously feels really good, and I think helps them build a little bit of confidence in that part of the field.”
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
