[
Box score] [
CPP Presser]
POMONA, Calif. – Cal Poly Pomona got a goal from
Marisa Salazar right after halftime and held off Western Washington the rest of the way to earn a 1-0 win in the semifinal round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Soccer West Regional. (Nov. 23)
Cal Poly Pomona created scoring chances throughout the first half, outshooting WWU 7-1, but it was not able to find the goal until it switched ends of the field.
The opportunity started with a throw-in to
Tara Oper in front of the Broncos' bench. She quickly turned and beat her defender down the sideline before sending a cross to the front of the goal where two defenders and two Broncos waited in the box. The Vikings' defender got the first touch on the ball, knocking it down. Salazar jumped on the loose ball and split the defenders with her shot. The ball went between them and passed the outstretched arm of the keeper to find the back of the net. It was Salazar's sixth goal.
Even with the lead the Broncos did not sit back on defense as they continued to create chances and make the Vikings work on defense. WWU's best second-half scoring opportunity came on a free kick from 30 yards out that Broncos' goalkeeper
Bella Hara was able to smother in the air.
Western Washington did have a great chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute, but just like she did in the CCAA Tournament Championship, Hara came through with a 1v1 save. The Vikings'
Kyrsten McGuffey got behind her defender with the ball and only had Hara to beat. McGuffey took her shot to the far side of the net, and the shot looked good before Hara reached out fully extended to get a full hand on the ball and knock it off line.
Hara finished with three saves and
Abigail Trengove made one for WWU.
Cal Poly Pomona will advance to the West Region Championship match. The Broncos are the top-seed and will host No. 2 seed Point Loma on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m.