SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Graduate student Juliana Alexander played a pivotal role down the stretch of Sunday afternoon's match at Cal Poly, collecting a career-high ten saves in a 2-2 draw at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

A back-and-forth contest saw the Tigers (1-2-1) and the Mustangs (0-0-4) trade plenty of scoring chances throughout the 90 minutes, battling to two goals apiece in the first road match of Pacific's 2025 schedule.

Alexander, the native of Bakersfield, California, was tested often in the second half, facing 20 of the 27 total shot attempts she faced from the Mustangs' offense during that period. Alexander came up clutch with a few key saves in the final ten minutes to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

Alexander finished the contest with ten saves, nine of which in the second half that kept the Mustangs in check. Alexander surpassed her previous single-game career-high mark of eight saves set during the 2023 season. She now has 25 saves through four starts.

Graduate student Taylor Curtis was the benefactor of a penalty kick goal for her first marker of the 2025 campaign. In the 51st minute, Curtis leveled the playing field after the Mustangs committed a hand ball foul that resulted in a penalty kick for their second of that variety on the year. Curtis recorded her third career goal as a Tiger and first since the 2024 home opener against Houston Christian.

Cal Poly struck first in the sixth minute as Annika Smith broke the ice for an early 1-0 lead.

Pacific responded as sophomore Sierah McCallum crossed in the ball into the box and ricocheted off a Mustang defender and into the goal for the equalizer. 

Two minutes before the first half, the Mustangs converted on a header by Brennan Cole to present the home team with a 2-1 lead at the break.

Following a reviewed hand ball by a Cal Poly player in the box, Pacific was rewarded with a penalty kick where Curtis fired a shot into the goal past the Mustangs' goalkeeper in the lower left corner to tie the game up at 2-2.

Cal Poly applied offensive pressure in the late stages of the match while Pacific sprinkled in a few opportunities as well, notably one of freshman Janelli Villagran's game-high five shot attempts throughout the match and McCallum's arching shot that hit the woodwork in the 87th minute.

With the 2-2 score, the Tigers stand at 1-2-1 on the year through four contests and drew a road opponent for the first time since Sept 5, 2024 at Weber State.
 
Pacific will remain on the road next week as the team faces Cal State Bakersfield Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Main Soccer Field. The Tigers possess a 4-2 all-time record against the Roadrunners.

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