San Luis Obispo, Calif. 026 026 026 – The California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly Mustangs women’s soccer team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against the UC Irvine Anteaters on October 25, 2026, at Spanos Stadium. Despite controlling possession and outshooting UC Irvine 10-6, Cal Poly was unable to convert their chances into goals.
The decisive moment came late in the second half at the 74:50 mark when Mimi Yamamoto scored off a corner kick assisted by Keira Baranski to secure the lone goal for UC Irvine. Earlier, Cal Poly goalkeeper Shannon Porubski made a notable diving save to keep the match scoreless.
Senior forward Annika Smith and sophomore Farra Franklin created promising early chances, while junior midfielder Miah Thomas contributed key crosses, including one headed on goal by junior forward Isis Salazar-Ortega in the 49th minute. In the 80th minute, sophomore Maddy Cole nearly equalized with a header that struck the crossbar.
Following the defeat, Cal Poly head coach Bernardo Silva reflected on the missed opportunities. “We just allowed a team in UC Irvine that needed to win, to stay alive in the game,” Silva said. “When you don’t put one away, you’re susceptible to conceding one and that’s exactly what happened. Credit to them, they found a way to score.”
The loss places Cal Poly in a five-way tie for fourth place in the Big West Conference standings with two regular-season matches remaining. The Mustangs will seek to rebound on October 28 when they travel to face UC Riverside at 6 p.m.
CSB Take
Cal Poly’s narrow loss to UC Irvine underscores the razor-thin margins in Big West Conference competition as postseason positioning becomes critical. The Mustangs demonstrated dominance in possession and created multiple quality scoring chances but struggled to capitalize. With only two matches left, efficiency in front of goal and maintaining defensive focus will be paramount for Cal Poly to solidify their berth in the Big West Championship and conclude the season on a high note.
Source: Original report
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