[Box score] [Tournament Central]

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer team proved once again why it is a championship-level program that will not go out of the playoffs easily. Holly Wilbanks scored on a 48-yard free kick with 1:19 remaining to lift No. 4 seed Cal Poly Pomona to a 2-1 win over fifth-seeded Simon Fraser in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship. (Nov. 13)
 
The win keeps the Broncos (12-2-6) in contention for a third consecutive West Region title and sets up a second-round match with top-seeded Western Washington (16-2-3) on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. The winner advances to the NCAA West Region final.
 
Cal Poly Pomona opened the scoring in the 41st minute when Charlie Gallardo intercepted a clearance, carried the ball 25 yards and sidestepped a defender before placing a shot into the lower-left corner for her sixth goal of the season. Simon Fraser answered less than three minutes later. Sam Bouchard played the ball ahead to Camryn Strain, who finished inside the far post to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
 
The Broncos outshot the Red Leafs 13-5 in the second half, but Simon Fraser goalkeeper Sofia Piperni made four of her seven saves after halftime to keep the match level.
 
Wilbanks broke the tie in the 89th minute with a free kick from near the sideline that bounced in the penalty area and over Piperni for her first goal of the season. Cal Poly Pomona finished with a 20-10 advantage in shots and ended Simon Fraser’s season at 13-4-3.
 
It was Cal Poly Pomona’s second win over Simon Fraser this season, following a 1-0 result in September. The Broncos also defeated the Red Leafs in last year’s regional semifinal on their way to a second straight national semifinal appearance.
 
Sunday’s match brings together two of the past four NCAA Division II national champions. Western Washington won the title in 2022, and Cal Poly Pomona beat the Vikings 1-0 in the second round on its way to the 2024 championship. Western Washington enters this year’s rematch at home after winning the GNAC regular-season and tournament titles and receiving a first-round bye.
 
The match will kick off on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.