MERCED, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's soccer continued its strong start to conference play Sunday afternoon, earning a 1-0 road victory over UC Merced on a late goal by Kella Folkerts. The Pioneers improved to 4-4-1 overall and 2-0-0 in CCAA action, while the Bobcats dropped to 4-2-3 and 1-1-0.
After a scoreless first half, the Pioneers capitalized in the 81st minute behind Folkerts' third goal of the season. The play began with a pass out wide to Taylor Hodges who pushed forward into the box. She sent a pass towards the front of the net that was touched by a defender before Folkerts finished it off.
The goal capped a strong defensive performance by the Pioneers, who weathered 10 UC Merced corner kicks and 12 total shots. Goalkeeper Ashley Levi anchored the back line with a three-save shutout, her second clean sheet of the season.
Offensively, East Bay tallied six shots, with three on goal, including two from Abigail Kern to lead the team.
With the win, Cal State East Bay has now won back-to-back matches to open CCAA play for the first time since 2021. The Pioneers head out on the road next week for a pair of matches, taking on Cal Poly Humboldt on Friday and Cal State San Marcos on Sunday.
Latest Women's Soccer
- Pioneer Preview: October 14-20The Pioneers have a big week ahead with some key men's and women's soccer CCAA matches at home while volleyball heads out on the road. Men's and women's cross country also runs in their final tuneup before the CCAA Championships at the end of the month.
- Pioneers Battle to Road Draw at Cal State San MarcosSAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal State East Bay women's soccer fought to a hard-earned 0–0 draw against Cal State San Marcos on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers used a strong defensive showing to earn the road point, moving to 4–5–2 overall and 2–1–1 in the CCAA.
- Pioneers Fall 2–0 to Cal Poly HumboldtLIVERMORE, Calif. — Cal State East Bay women's soccer dropped its first home CCAA match of the season Friday afternoon, falling 2–0 to Cal Poly Humboldt at Las Positas College. The visiting Lumberjacks scored twice in the opening 25 minutes to move the Pioneers to 4-6-1 overall and 2-1 in CCAA play.
- Pioneers Open CCAA Play with 2-1 Road Win at Stanislaus StateTURLOCK, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's soccer started conference play in style on Friday afternoon, earning a 2-1 victory over Stanislaus State at Warrior Stadium. The Pioneers used second-half goals from Morgan Pearson and Kella Folkerts, to improv to 3-4-1 overall and 1-0-0 in CCAA action.
- Pioneer Spotlight Alumni Edition: Maya FarkasWhen Maya Farkas wore the Pioneer jersey, she never imagined how deeply those years on the pitch would shape her future. Today, as a recent Fire Fighter 1 academy and EMT program graduate preparing to enter the fire service, she draws daily from the lessons she learned at Cal State East Bay—lessons of discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
- Pioneers Edged by No. 1 Cal Poly Pomona 1-0HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay women's soccer put together a determined defensive effort on Sunday afternoon but came up just short against the No 1 team in the nation, Cal Poly Pomona. The Pioneers dropped the 1-0 decision and moved to 2-4-1 overall.
