The University of Nevada soccer team fell to No. 15 California 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Mackay Stadium.

With the loss, Nevada drops to (4-5-1, 0-0 MW, while California improves to (7-3, 0-0 Pac-12).

“We had our moments and opportunities to score goals against a very good opponent today,” head coach Dr. Melissa Price said. “For about 15 minutes in the match we let up on the defensive pressure and Cal capitalized to extend their lead.”

Nevada used the energy of the record crowd of 1,007 fans in the first half to battle the 15th-ranked Cal team. The Wolf Pack attacked early, creating two corner kick opportunities within the first seven minutes of the match that were cleared by the Bears defense. Cal settled in and had several shots on goal that were kept out of the net by Nevada’s senior goalkeeper Dana Moreno. The Pack just missed out on an early chance to take the lead on a header by sophomore Chrisalyn Fonte that just sailed over the cross bar. Cal took a 1-0 lead over Nevada with four seconds remaining before halftime, as a shot bounced off the back of a Wolf Pack defender and into the net.

Wolf Pack freshman Daisha Jones-Oglesby nearly tied the game in the first minutes of the second half, as her shot inside the box hit the left post. Cal forward Ifeoma Onumonu turned a cross from sophomore Kory Lamet into a goal in the 56th minute to extend their lead to 2-0. The Bears scored again two minutes later to take a 3-0 lead on a goal by junior Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick. Cal’s goalkeeper Lauren Hein denied Nevada’s final attempts on goal to seal the 3-0 win.

Nevada will open up Mountain West play on the road Friday, facing its consecutive ranked opponent with a match against No. 17 San Diego State at 7 p.m.