MORAGA, Calif. – After a summer of preparation and months of waiting, the 2023 Women's Soccer season has finally arrived. Saint Mary's will hit the road for their season opener facing off against UC Irvine on Thursday August 17 before their home opener on Sunday August 20 against Idaho State. 
 
THE DETAILS
 
Saint Mary's Gaels (0-0) at UC Irvine Anteaters (0-0)
Thursday, August 17 at 6 PM 
Anteater Stadium – Irvine, CA
Watch Live | Live Stats
 
Idaho State Bengals (0-0) at Saint Mary's Gaels (0-0)
Sunday, August 20 at 1 PM
Saint Mary's Stadium – Moraga, CA
Watch Live | Live Stats
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Gaels are coming off a 5-6-7 season in 2022. Ties defined SMC's season in the end, but there were plenty of exciting moments including the program's first ever BYU shutout. 
 
Saint Mary's started last season on the front foot, winning their first two matches against Cal Poly and Santa Barbara. After a few ties, the Gaels rebounded with one of their best matches of the season against UC San Diego, which saw SMC win 4-2 thanks to a Nayeli Diaz hattrick.
 
Another season highlight came against Pepperdine on senior night, which saw SMC goalkeeper Taylor Poland record eight saves, including an otherworldly penalty save in the 87^th minute to hold on to the draw for the Gaels.
 
SMC are welcoming 14 new players to the squad this season, including 11 freshman and three transfers.
 
This past weekend the Gaels hosted CSU Bakersfield in Moraga for an exhibition match ahead of the season. It was a battle for 90 minutes, with the lone goal coming from an impressive solo effort by Tessa Salvestrin. The sophomore was just included in the Preseason All-WCC team on Tuesday. 
 
ABOUT UC IRVINE
The Anteaters finished their 2022 season with an 11-6-7 record and a Big West Championship to their name. Head Coach Scott Juniper will enter his 16^th year in charge in 2023 as the all-time winningest coach in Anteaters history. UC Irvine defeated Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, and Long Beach en route to their 2^ndconsecutive Big West title. The Anteaters didn't allow a single goal their entire championship winning run. In the NCAA Championship, they won their first game 2-0 over USC before beating Brown in penalty kicks during the second round. In the third round, they lost to Alabama 3-1 to end their postseason run. It was tied with their longest tournament run ever, having reached the third round just once prior in 2010. 
 
ABOUT IDAHO STATE
The Bengals enter 2023 looking for a rebound season after having gone 3-11-2 in 2022. Last season was Head Coach Dustin Downey's first year in charge, after the previous coach left after four seasons with the Bengals. Their three wins came at varying points of the season, their first coming four matches in with a 1-0 victory over Lipscomb. The Bengals didn't win again until October with a 1-0 win over Sacramento State, before closing out the season with a 2-0 win over Northern Colorado.