Box Score TMC 1 - CSUSM 0

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 13 Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team fell 1-0 to The Master's College in the opening game of the Cougars' fall campaign on Wednesday at the CSUSM Multipurpose Field.

In a match where the Cougars controlled most of the possession early on, TMC forward Jessica Long's floater over CSUSM keeper Amanda Sears in the 78^th minute proved to be the game winner.

The Cougars drop to 0-1 while the Mustangs improve to 2-1-1. It marks just the second time in CSUSM program history in which the Cougars have dropped their season opener.
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“This was our first game this season, it was their fourth. They were a little bit fitter than us,” said CSUSM head coach Ron Pulvers. “I'm pleased with our team's effort today but I think the execution needs to be a bit better on the final pass, possession needs to be better, and we need to be more opportunistic in front of the goal.”

CSUSM took little time to get going, ignited by a raucous student-section fresh back on campus for the third day of school. CSUSM midfielder Sarah Hopper picked off a Mustang pass deep in the right corner and quickly played a ball to the penalty spot for Katie Voss. Voss struck the one-timer cleanly, but the ball sailed over the bar.

Moments later, Shelby Bush played a ball to the left corner for Kayleigh Dodson. Dodson made a cut inside and put a cross in for Hopper, but the TMC defense was up to the task.
“I thought we carried the match, especially early on. When you miss chances early on and a couple golden opportunities, it breaks you a little bit emotionally,” said Pulvers.

Natalie Lara nearly made it 1-0 for CSUSM just after halftime. The freshman midfielder turned her defender at the top of the 18 before cracking a left-footer wide of the far post. Five minutes later, Voss freed-up Bush along the right touchline by playing the senior forward into the box. Bush sent a cross inside for Dodson, but TMC defender Ashlea Andrade slid to clear the ball wide.

TMC caught CSUSM off-guard less than 13 minutes from full-time. Andrade found Long on a harmless throw-in about 25 yards out. Sensing no pressure from CSUSM, Long lifted a high shot from the edge of the box, catching Sears a bit off her line. Sears did well to get a palm to the shot, but the ball trickled over her glove and into the side-netting.

CSUSM's best chance came two minutes from time, as Bush beat a couple of defenders on the right side before playing a cross to the back post for substitute Mary Green. Green volleyed the cross before the touch-line, but it rested against the outside of the net.

The Cougars have a quick turnaround this weekend as they will head up to Oakland to face Holy Names on Friday at 1:00 p.m. The following day, CSUSM faces NCAA Division II opponent Seattle Pacific at 11:00 a.m. SPU is currently ranked No. 19 in NCAA DII.

“Three games in four days is what you want to do early on. You want to test your team to get them more seasoned and hope for good things down the line. Like [associate head coach] Bobby [Renneisen] said: it's not how you start, it's how you finish the season,” said Pulvers. “We've got a lot of growing to do and a long way to go, but it's going to be a fun journey. I like this team a whole lot.”