WSOC Preview: Unbeaten Lancers Open Big West Era Against Cal Poly, UC Riverside

Wednesday, September 23

San Luis Obispo, CA

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

Cal Poly

Photo by: Matt Horrocks

WSOC Preview: Unbeaten Lancers Open Big West Era Against Cal Poly, UC Riverside

9/22/2026 2:43:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: Will Carter, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications & Digital Media

RIVERSIDE – CBU begins its first Big West season Wednesday with an unbeaten 5-0-1 record, traveling to Cal Poly before closing out the week against UC Riverside in the Crosstown Showdown on Saturday.

CBU is coming off a historic start and will look to carry that momentum into Big West play. The Lancers enter Wednesday's match against Cal Poly as the only Division I women's soccer team in the country yet to allow a goal this season, thanks in large part to graduate goalkeeper Mikayla O'Brien and a stellar Lancers defense led by graduate Taylor Held and junior Ava Lopez.

The Lancers have outscored their opponents 9-0 this season, with six different players finding the back of the net. Freshmen Maya Yoshimura and Bella D'Amico, along with senior transfers Alyse Then and Tyra King, have all scored and made an impact in their first seasons as Lancers.

CBU also enters Big West play as the conference's only unbeaten team. Long Beach State sits just behind the Lancers with a 6-1-2 record after recently falling to Utah.

The Lancers also remain No. 1 in the IWSOC/United Soccer Coaches West Region poll, marking their third consecutive week in the top spot.

CAL POLY

Match Info
Date: Wednesday, September 23
Time: 6 p.m. (PT)
Location: Mustang Memorial Field | San Luis Obispo, Calif.
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: HERE

Series History
The Lancers lead the all-time series 2-0, with both wins coming early in CBU's Division I era. CBU faced the Mustangs during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2018, the Lancers earned a 3-2 double-overtime victory, while CBU advanced in a 4-2 shootout in 2019.

Scouting the Mustangs
The reigning Big West champions, Cal Poly enters Wednesday's matchup with a 3-3-2 record after opening the season with a challenging nonconference schedule. The Mustangs earned wins over UNLV, San Jose State and Pacific while also picking up a scoreless draw at Cal before falling 2-0 at Seattle in their most recent match. Cal Poly has scored nine goals through eight matches, led by four from Miah Thomas, while allowing seven goals and recording three shutouts.

UC RIVERSIDE

Match Info
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 1 p.m. (PT)
Location: UCR Soccer Stadium | Riverside, Calif.
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: HERE

Series History
CBU leads the all-time series 4-1-1. The Lancers have faced the Highlanders every season since 2019, excluding the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CBU enters Saturday's matchup on a four-game unbeaten streak and a three-game winning streak against UCR, with the Lancers earning shutout victories in each of the last two meetings.

Last season, the Lancers earned a 2-0 victory at home. Kayle Hauck opened the scoring inside the first 10 minutes before now-junior Bexy Sanchez added a goal in the 37th minute.

Crosstown Showdown
Saturday's matchup marks the first edition of the newly created Crosstown Showdown rivalry between the two schools across all sports. While CBU and UCR have competed against each other as Riverside rivals in the past, the Crosstown Showdown gives the rivalry an official name beginning this year.

Scouting the Highlanders
UC Riverside enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-5 record after opening the season with seven nonconference matches. The Highlanders picked up wins over Kansas City and North Dakota, scoring three goals against Kansas City and two against North Dakota, but have been held scoreless in four of their five losses. UCR has scored five goals through seven matches while allowing eight, with four different players finding the back of the net this season.