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University of the Pacific

Kayla Pham
1
Santa Clara SCU (5-6-2, 1-2-2)
2
Winner Pacific PAC (4-6-3, 1-3-1)
Santa Clara SCU
(5-6-2, 1-2-2)
1
Final
2
Pacific PAC
(4-6-3, 1-3-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Santa Clara SCU 1 0 1
Pacific PAC 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Pacific Defeats Preseason Favorite Santa Clara in Homecoming Thriller

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific women's soccer program delivered a thrilling 2-1 victory over Santa Clara to the Stockton faithful as part of Homecoming Weekend on Saturday at Knoles Field.

A pair of first-career goals powered the Tigers (4-6-3, 1-3-1 WCC) to their first West Coast Conference victory of the season, utilizing a resilient effort to complete the comeback over the Broncos (5-6-2, 1-2-2 WCC).

"I'm so proud of our resilience today," Pacific head coach Jeff Freeman said. "Today was a total team win for us. We fought hard, we fought for each other and when we do that, I'll take this team against anybody in the country!"

Sophomore Gianna Gagliano and sophomore Kayla Pham scored their first career goals as Tigers in the effort offensively. While Gagliano notched the game's equalizer in the 39th minute, Pham scorched the game-winning shot for in the 70th minute off passes from junior Whitney Garn and fifth year Aniela Jensen.

Defensively, freshman Lis Van Herwijnen kept her composure in her eighth consecutive start in goal, making four saves off the Broncos' shots on target. SCU ultimately led the game with a 18-11 shot attempt differential, including a dozen in the second half, but the Tigers' defense stymied their attacks to just one goal allowed on a first-half penalty kick.

Despite allowing the first goal by Mailin Orozco in the sixth minute, the Tigers regrouped and utilized the energy from the Homecoming crowd to ignite the comeback for their second victory of the year on their home turf.

With the win, the Tigers have their first victory over the Broncos at home since 2022, snapping a four-game losing stretch in the head-to-head match-up. Saturday's conference win also marks the program's first WCC victory since a 5-3 result on Nov. 4, 2023, against San Francisco on Senior Night.

Pacific now has a week to prepare for its next tilt, heading to Southern California to take on LMU at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Sullivan Field.

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For all the latest on Pacific women's soccer, be sure to follow the team on X (@PacificWSoccer), Instagram (@pacificwsoccer) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Women's Soccer).
 
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