SAN MARCOS, Calif. – In its CCAA home opener, the Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team (5-2-3, 2-1-0 CCAA) picked up a 2-1 victory over Cal State San Bernardino (2-3-4, 1-1-1 CCAA) on Friday afternoon at The Cage.
 
GOALS
CSUSM – 48' Nani Kia'aina (Unassisted)
CSUSM – 56' Natalie Paulson (Assisted by Emma Hord)
CSUSB – 57' Bella Cervantes (Assisted by Ayme Delgado)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Scoreless after 45 minutes, both sides took two shots for the half while the Cougars had both of the shots on goal for the period. CSUSM also had a 4-1 advantage on corner kicks.
• In the 48th minute, CSUSM took a 1-0 lead after Nani Kia'aina put a shot into the right side of the goal from the middle of the box after taking control of a pass into the box that deflected off a CSUSB defender.
• The Cougars went up 2-0 in the 56th minute. After a CSUSM corner kick, Emma Hord took possession outside of the box before sending a pass over the middle of the box to Natalie Paulson. After two dribbles, Paulson put a shot into the left side of the net from six yards out.
• The Coyotes made it a one-goal game just over a minute later in the 57th minute. After a CSUSB free kick was punched out to the top of the box by the CSUSM keeper, Ayme Delgado made a quick pass down to Bella Cervantes, who immediately put a shot into the right side of the goal to make it 2-1.

 
QUICK KICKS

• CSUSM led the game in shots (11-4), shots on goal (6-2) and corner kicks (8-2).
• The Cougars had possession for 55% of the game while 71% of its possessions occurred in Coyote territory.
• Kia'aina's goal was her first of the season while Paulson tallied her second.
• Hord's assist was her first point of the year.
• This was CSUSM's first win over CSUSB since 2021 in San Marcos.
• The Cougars are now 5-2-6 in the all-time series against the Coyotes and are 4-0-3 when playing in San Marcos.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will face No. 2 Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in The Cage.