HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay Pioneer women's soccer team kicked off the 2017 regular season with a 3-1 victory over Holy Names University on Thursday evening August 31 at Pioneer Stadium.
 
This was East Bay's first season opening win since the start of the 2014 season.
 
The new look Pioneers were clicking on all cylinders as they stormed back after falling down 1-0 early late in the first half of action. CSUEB came out aggressive offensively routinely applying pressure on the Hawks defense and forcing Holy Names' starting goalie Vanessa Amaral to come away with seven saves.
 
East Bay's offensive strike came to fruition in the second half of play. The Pioneers came out the locker room refreshed and quickly took momentum of the game that they would not relinquish.
 
Junior Aulani Fernandez turned in CSUEB's first score of the 2017 off of a header assist from Miranda Gonzalez after a free kick form Kiret Pattar in the 68th minute. The play was a true beauty as Pattar placed her kick perfectly between the Hawks defense for her first career assist as a Pioneer. For Gonzalez it was her 5th career assist and her first of the 2017 season.
 
Junior Bri Vallente scored the game-winning goal in the 76th minute as she dribbled down the left side of the field and weaved around a Hawk defender and put a shot past the goalie on the the right hand side of the goal. She was assisted on the goal by Lauren McDougal. For Vallente her first career goal as an East Bay Pioneer came is stunning fashion and for McDougal her first career assist was just the start to her captivating evening.
 
McDougal, a freshman from Elk Grove, Calif., would put the game away for CSUEB as she scored her first collegiate goal in the 80th minute of action. Fellow freshman Abby Buitrago was awarded the assist on the goal.
 
Cal State East Bay women's soccer Head Coach Amy Gerace was pleased with her team's effort on opening night, but still felt there are areas where the team can improve.
 
"I thought there was a lot of good possession tonight. I wish we could've done a better job capitalizing in the first half with so much possession in their half, said Gerace who is in her 17th season as head coach.
 
"We came out in the 2nd half and lost the rhythm for a bit, but quickly regained it and scored a nice goal on a key set piece. From there I was happy to see some of our new players, Bri (Vallente) and Lauren (McDougal) find the first goals this season through the flow of play. Savannah (Schultz) was awesome in the middle really helping us control the game. Our backs also did a nice job in possession with their experience and comfort playing with each other. We talked to the players at the end of the game about ways they could've been better and I think this group will continue to build with each opportunity to play. I was happy with their response to giving up the goal with the ability to keep their focus in the second half. As always, we're blessed to get a win without picking up any injuries and will begin preparing tomorrow for our next opponent."
 
The Pioneers will have a day off before retuning to Hayward for the final game of the their home stand with a Saturday afternoon matchup against Simon Fraser at Pioneer Stadium with a 1:00 p.m. kick off.