No. 22 San Diego State suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling at California, 2-0, at Goldman Stadium. The decision dropped the Aztecs to 2-1, while the Golden Bears improved to 2-1 in what was a physical game that lacked rhythm.

 

California scored the first two goals of the game with the first coming in the opening minutes. Celeste Boureille found herself on the left side of the box and put her shot past the oncoming Melanie Vaughn, SDSU’s goalkeeper, in the third minute.

 

California controlled possession for the next 24 minutes and enjoyed a few dangerous scoring opportunities, but Vaughn was able to keep the home side off the scoreboard. In the 27^th minute, Leah Pruitt, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, dribbled from the midline to the top of the box and sent a low liner toward the left side of the cage, but Cal keeper Emily Boyd made a diving stop for the Golden Bears.

 

Three minutes after San Diego State’s top scoring chance, Boureille doubled California’s advantage after she took a centering pass and headed the ball past Vaughn, who was coming to punch the ball away. The Golden Bears’ Indigo Gibson and Lorin Hom were credited with the assists as the half eventually came to an end with the scoreboard reading, 2-0.

 

In the second half, the Aztecs pushed forward offensively, creating more chances for themselves compared to the first half. In the 70^th minute, SDSU had a flurry of shots coming from Hedda Regefalk and Pruitt, but the Aztecs came up empty each time. SDSU later received an offensive boost from Morgan Darling, who created some opportunities, but visitors were unable to convert. Save for a few of California attempts, all of which Vaughn and the backline defended, San Diego State possessed the ball for a majority of the half.

 

At the final horn, the Golden Bears wound up outshooting the Aztecs, 16-8, and led in shots on goal, 9-2. San Diego State, however, had two cornerkicks, while California attempted just one. A combined 35 fouls and six yellow cards, meanwhile, were issued. The Golden Bears were whistled 21 times and had two yellows, and the Aztecs were singled out 14 times and were on the receiving end of four cards of the yellow variety.

 

Individually for San Diego State, Pruitt had a team-high five shots and Aliyah Utush finished with a pair. Regefalk added the other attempt for the Scarlet and Black. Vaughn, meanwhile, had a season-high six saves.

 

SDSU continues its road swing on Monday when it faces No. 22/-- Arizona State in Tempe. The game is set for 7 p.m. PT and will stream live online.