Moraga, Calif. – The Gaels offense brought the heat in the season opener on Thursday afternoon, netting three goals in a decisive 3-1 win over Cal Poly.
 
LIFT OFF!
The season started perfectly for Saint Mary's, pressuring the Mustangs and forcing mistakes in the opposition's half from the first whistle. The newcomers on the Gaels set the tone, as freshman Tessa Salvestrin got the Gaels on the scoresheet just 30 minutes into the first half.
 
On a perfect ball from fellow freshman Savannah Schwarze, Salvestrin wiggled her way into the right side of the box, where she then blasted a right footed shot, careening off the right post, then the left, before settling into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 SMC.
 
POSITIVE MOMENTUM
Saint Mary's continued to pressure Cal Poly after Salvestrin's opener, forcing careless mistakes from the Mustangs. Just four minutes after the opening goal, the Gaels once again capitalized. Nayeli Diaz, who had been all over the Mustangs from the start, took advantage, threading a perfect through ball to freshman Briana Salvetti, who launched a left footed shot across the goalie into the bottom right-hand corner for a 2-0 Gaels lead.
 
THREE FOR THREE
Salvetti's goal proved to be enough for the Gaels, but that wasn't going to stop another freshman from putting her name on the scoresheet. Freshman Tessa Salvestrin was once again at the heart of the move, beautifully controlling the ball off her chest before spinning around and lasering a through ball right into the path of fellow freshman Priscilla Ward, who had made a fantastic run from midfield. One on one with the goalkeeper, Ward calmly fizzed the ball into the bottom left corner for a 3-0 lead.
 
MATCH MANAGEMENT
With all of the Gael's goals coming in the first half, Saint Mary's spent most of the second half managing the clock. Cal Poly managed to pressure the Gaels, forcing in a goal of their own in the 82^nd minute to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The Mustangs had another opportunity to cut the deficit to one, but junior goalkeeper Taylor Poland immediately smothered the shot before any Mustangs could gather the rebound. Although the Gaels won comfortably, Poland was kept busy, recording four saves throughout the game as the Mustangs turned up the offensive pressure in the second half.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels are set to play UC Santa Barbara this Sunday, August 21 at 1 pm at Saint Mary's Stadium.