MORAGA, Calif. - Saint Mary's opened up their 2025 season at home Thursday evening against Big West member CSUN. The Gaels outshot the Matadors 18-5 and led by a goal with 16 minutes to play, but CSUN would net the equalizer in the 88th minute to split the points on a dramatic opening day of college soccer.
Captains
Sydney Middaugh and
Savannah Schwarze scored the first two goals of the season for Saint Mary's as they held two leads in the afternoon, but a pesky CSUN squad would answer with goals in the 15th and 88th minute to draw 2-2. SMC freshman
Ashlyn Vaughn was a bright spot off the bench, tallying 61 minutes and recording her first collegiate assist on Schwarze's goal in the second half.
The Gaels dictated the game the entire night, recording 18 shots, but with only five on frame and some missed opportunities CSUN was able to hang around and capitalize late to earn the draw. Middaugh's goal in the first half went down as her ninth of her career while Schwarze netted her sixth goal of her career with a powerful strike from the top of the box in the 74th minute.
FIRST HALF SMC 1-1 CSUN
Saint Mary's got off to a fast start with two shots inside the 18-yard box in the opening five minutes and even had a penalty decision just seconds after the opening kick to apply the early pressure to the CSUN backline. They eventually broke through on the counter with a tremendous solo goal from junior forward
Sydney Middaugh.
The Gaels successfully defended a free kick opportunity from the Matadors near their penalty box. Second year forward
Brooke Fairbanks collected the loose ball and fed it to Middaugh who went on a near full field run to eventually hammer home a left footed strike, giving the Gaels a 1-0 lead and their first goal of the 2025 season. Fairbanks recorded her first collegiate assist after playing in just one game last season while Middaugh scored her ninth goal of her SMC career.
Despite lacking pressure and tallying just one shot in the opening fifteen minutes, CSUN capitalized on a crucial turnover in the Gaels defensive half just three minutes later to level the game at one. Cailey Jackson picked an errant pass near midfield and sent a shot from distance over Gael keeper
Kate Plachy who was off her line.
Saint Mary's out shot CSUN 9-2 but the game remained tied after the first 45 minutes.
FINAL SMC 2-2 CSUN
It took a little longer for the Gaels to strike in the second half but they finally broke through with a screamer just outside the box from senior midfielder
Savannah Schwarze. Defender
Molly Silva found a great entry pass to freshman forward
Ashlyn Vaughn who dished it to Schwarze just outside of the 18-yard box. Schwarze shook her defender and fired a right footed shot that found the top right corner to give Saint Mary's a 2-1 lead.
Vaughn was a great spark for the Gaels off the bench as she recorded her first collegiate assist in her first collegiate game, finishing the match with 61 minutes of action and a pair of shots. The hockey assist went down as the second of her career for Silva who played all 90 minutes in the Gaels backline.
The Gaels could taste the win but CSUN would equalize again, this time scoring in the 88th minute off a throw-in to earn a point in a thrilling season opener. The Matadors took a series of throws deep in the Gaels defensive half and forward Jordyn Canister would find the ball at her feet and turn the defender to center the ball inside the penalty box and allow teammate Lia Peterson to finish first time.
Despite getting outshot by 13, CSUN found a way to equalize late and leave Moraga with a point. Saint Mary's will take plenty of positives away from the opener as they dominated the offensive chances and also used just three subs, speaking to their veteran squad that Romagnolo brings into 2025.
Briana Salvetti led the Gaels with five shot attempts while
Emmie Ennis had four of her own and tallied 80 minutes of action. Seven different players played all 90 minutes for Saint Mary's including their entire backline and two of their three midfielders in
Savannah Schwarze and
Maddie Lucas.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's will stay in the bay area next week but hit the road to take on seventh ranked Stanford on Sunday, August 24th at 1:00 PM. Tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com and the match can be streamed live on ACCNX.
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