The Stanislaus State Warriors started their Senior Day doubleheader on Sunday afternoon with their women’s team hosting the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos.

After a ceremony honoring their seniors, Haylee Heffner, Amber Pon, Shauna Johnston, Kaia Mills, Kaley Miller, and Ycela Ochoa, the Warriors had a tough test ahead of them: facing the #4 ranked Broncos, who entered the night 12-0-2.

The Warriors entered the match 6-5-2, but it would be a hard-fought game if they wanted to get the three points against a top-ranked team.

Warriors Starting XI: Kayla Perez, Aliah Avila, Shauna Johnston, Katie Smith, Makeila Yancey, Amber Pon, Haylee Heffner, Tylin Norman, Kaley Miller, Kellyann Rodriguez, Reyna Dismukes

Broncos Starting XI: Bella Hara, Angelina Rivas, Anna Schellpeper, Tara Oper, Bella Anderson, Giselle Samayoa, Vanessa Cruz, Kiarra D’Arcangelo, Lavinia Vaipulu, Liberty Ortiz, Auburn Burnett

Right out of the gate, it was clear that Stan State wanted to get the win for their seniors. The Warriors got off to a strong start, maintaining some offensive pressure and holding possession. 

Pomona got their first chance of the night in the eighth minute, when Vanessa Cruz got behind the defense and past the Warriors’ goalkeeper Tylin Norman, but was unable to put the ball into the open net. Immediately afterward, Miller had a strong run at the other end, but the defense was able to close down the shooting lanes and regain possession. 

In the 16th minute, the Broncos were called for a handball inside of the box. Aliah Avila stepped up to take the penalty and shot it low to the left side of the goal. Bella Hara, Pomona’s goalkeeper, dove to the right and the ball went into the nylon, making it 1-0 in favor of the Warriors. 

The Broncos quickly tried to swing momentum back in their favor as they pressured the Warriors’ backline. Norman made her first save of the night in the 20th minute when Pomona had a free-kick from distance. Cruz’s shot sailed toward the goal, forcing Norman to tip it over the crossbar. For quite a while after Stan State’s goal, it seemed like they were unable to break out of their defensive third of the pitch. 

Pomona was desperate for an equalizer and was making it difficult for the Warriors’ defense who continued to hold strong. Halfway through the first half, the Warriors made a few substitutions which included Sabrina Cabrera and Haylee Sousa entering the match. Getting some fresh players on the pitch allowed them to get out of their end and create some more offense. 

About a minute later, the Broncos had another dangerous scoring opportunity but were unable to take advantage. For Pomona, the first half-hour of the game was full of scoring chances but they weren’t able to finish them off. Some were due to Stan State’s strong defense, others were due to mistakes by the attackers. The game was getting more physical as it progressed. 

Pomona were desperate to keep their unbeaten season intact, while the Warriors undoubtedly would love to play spoiler and pick up the win. The next goal was going to be a turning point in the match, one way or another, and each team was doing whatever it took to make sure that it was in their favor. 

Cabrera nearly extended Stan State’s lead to two in the 42nd minute, however, her shot went just over the crossbar. Although Pomona had the ball for a majority of the half, led in shots 8-2, and sustained quite a bit of offensive pressure after Stan State’s goal, at half-time, the Warriors led 1-0 where it mattered. 

Natalia Ochoa took over in goal to start the second half. Similar to the first half, Stan State came out strong to start the second.

The Broncos continued trying to find an equalizer, but their offensive pressure seemed less consistent in the second half. Stan State were able to produce more offensive rushes of their own than they had in the first half but were unable to record a shot by the halfway point of the second half. The score still remained 1-0. 

The Warriors’ first shot of the half came from Kayla Perez in the 66th minute, but Hara made the save. Ochoa made a save of her own moments later on a shot from Kiarra D’Arcangelo. As it reached the 70th minute, Stan State still held the lead, and time was winding down quickly. Katie Smith made it 2-0 in the 75th minute off of a header, seemingly putting the game away with the home side. 

Pomona nearly got themselves on the board moments later, when a collision with the goalkeeper Ochoa made the ball land directly at the attacker’s feet with an empty net but the defense recovered and Ochoa was back in position before a shot was taken. Ochoa would record a total of six saves in just 45 minutes, a crucial part of the reason her team was able to stay ahead.

The Warriors were able to hold on and win their fourth straight game. The 2-0 victory also marked their fourth straight shutout, as they haven’t conceded a goal since their 2-1 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay.

Stan State scored a crucial victory against the team leading the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). As the Warriors fight for a playoff spot, their three points on Sunday will put them in prime position for a postseason berth. They have three more games remaining, and every single one will be crucial for them moving forward.

Upsetting #4 Cal Poly Pomona in convincing fashion will certainly do wonders for the Warriors’ confidence heading into those final games, as it should.