UA soccer opens Pac-12 play with upset of Cal

Published Sep. 22, 2012 1:21 p.m. ET

foxsports

BERKELEY, Calif. -- The Arizona women’s soccer team pulled out a 2-1 victory over No.15 California in its Pac-12 opener Saturday.

Arizona (5-3-1) got on the board first in the 53rd minute, when junior Jazmin Ponce registered her fourth goal of the season with the help of an assist from teammate Susana Melendez. In the 71st minute, Ponce took a pass from teammates Kristin Strother and Shannon Heinzler to earn her fifth goal of the season on a shot placed over the head of California goalkeeper Lauren Hein.

California (6-3-0) ran into trouble in the 51st minute when starting goalkeeper Emily Kruger received a red card and was ejected from the match. The Bears were able to bounce back from the ejection and score their first goal of the game in the 62nd minute when Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick took a shot from the top of the box, evening the score until Ponce's second goal gave the Wildcats the lead for good.

“Jazmin’s goals were pure quality,” UA coach Lisa Oyen added. “Everybody
had big moments to make the win happen. I give Cal credit; they did a
good job for being a man down. It was a good way to open Pac-12 play,
and we are very excited about the win today.”

In the net, Arizona goalkeeper Gabby Kaufman allowed just the one goal on California's 16 shots.