In a recent match, the Cal Poly Mustangs showcased their dominance on the field with a standout performance against Long Beach State. The highlight came in the 21st minute when senior forward Jessie Halladay executed a strategic play, returning the ball to sophomore defender Ava Mirelez. Positioned on the far left, Mirelez delivered an impressive cross from over 30 yards out, leading to a brilliant volley by Dougherty, who struck the ball off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net.
Dougherty reflected on the moment, stating, “We had a really thought-out scout, and part of it was just being ready for the ball coming on the weak side and they weren’t tracking me so I was just kind of waiting for that ball to come in … and Ava sent a beautiful ball in.” This goal marked Dougherty’s fourth of the season and the seventh of her collegiate career. Meanwhile, Mirelez achieved her first collegiate point and assist with this play, and Halladay notched her third assist of the season, adding to her impressive total of ten career assists.
With Halladay’s assist, she tied teammate Annika Smith for the Big West lead in points this season, with both players at 17. Dougherty’s performance also contributed to positioning the Mustangs as the top three point scorers in the conference, with Halladay (17), Smith (17), and Dougherty (15) leading the pack.
Defensively, the Mustangs excelled in keeping Long Beach State (5-6-3, 2-2-2 Big West) at bay for the remainder of the match. The team’s defensive effort was evident as they limited LBSU to just four shots on goal. Coach Silva commended the group’s performance, emphasizing, “Huge defensive effort by the whole group … like I said before, defenses win championships and I think we have a really clear understanding within our team of that concept right now, so really excited to continue to build upon what we’ve been able to find internally to be able to close out games.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Shannon Porubski, who was recently named Big West Freshman of the Week, played a pivotal role by making four key saves, which helped secure her sixth clean sheet of the season.
In terms of milestones, Halladay’s assist allowed her to join Camille Lafaix (2019-2022) with 42 points, placing her 15th on Cal Poly’s all-time points list. The match also saw key players such as Halladay, seniors Brennan Cole and Sophia Minnite, and redshirt sophomore Siena Urzua maintain their stamina by staying on the pitch for the entire game.
The Mustangs will continue their Southern California road trip this Sunday with a matchup against UC Irvine at 1 p.m. This game is particularly significant as both teams are currently tied for second place in the Big West standings. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
