FRESNO, Calif.--- Stan State scored three unanswered second-half goals to defeat Fresno Pacific 4-1 Thursday afternoon at Ramirez Field, securing its seventh straight berth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Soccer Tournament.
Aliah Avila,
Hibah Elbeshity,
Olivia Maragos and
Amanda Do each scored for the Warriors, who finished the regular season 8-5-4 overall and 7-4-2 in conference play with 23 points. The victory extended Stan State's unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2). The Warriors earned the No. 6 seed in the CCAA Tournament and will face third-seeded Cal State LA Sunday, Nov. 1, in Los Angeles.
First Half
Stan State generated several early scoring opportunities, with Avila sending an attempt high in the 11th minute before
Lorena Moreno had a shot blocked in the 12th minute.
Franchesca Maiden forced Fresno Pacific goalkeeper Brielle Calhoun into her first save in the 15th minute.
Fresno Pacific struck first in the 21st minute when Gizelle Aguirre scored her fourth goal of the season at the 20:43 mark to give the Sunbirds a 1-0 advantage.
The Warriors responded with pressure of their own. Avila had shots stopped by Calhoun in the 26th and 28th minutes before
Karissa Franco sent an attempt wide in the 32nd minute. Avila followed with another attempt that struck the crossbar later in the 32nd minute.
Stan State finally broke through in the 37th minute when Avila scored her fifth goal of the season at the 36:52 mark to even the score at 1-1. The unassisted goal was Avila's 22nd of her career.
The Warriors entered halftime tied 1-1 despite holding a 9-2 advantage in shots, including a 4-1 edge in shots on goal. Stan State also held a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Second Half
Stan State continued applying offensive pressure after halftime, with Maiden sending an attempt high in the 49th minute before Maragos forced Calhoun into a save in the 52nd minute.
The Warriors took their first lead in the 55th minute when Elbeshity scored her second goal of the season at the 54:16 mark off an assist from
Mandy Thao. The goal gave Stan State a 2-1 advantage and proved to be the game-winner.
Just over four minutes later, Maragos extended the Warriors' lead to 3-1 with her seventh goal of the season at the 58:43 mark.
Kayla Perez recorded the assist on the goal, her first of the season.
Stan State continued attacking, with Moreno forcing Calhoun into a save in the 60th minute before
Grace Vojkufka had an attempt stopped by reserve goalkeeper Isabella Alvarez in the 74th minute.
Fresno Pacific looked to cut into the deficit, but goalkeeper
Zara Mujica stopped Damaris Lopez's attempt in the 68th minute and Bryana Ford's shot in the 76th minute to preserve the two-goal advantage.
The Warriors added an insurance goal in the 87th minute when Do scored her first goal of the season at the 86:08 mark off an assist from Maragos, extending the lead to 4-1.
Stan State finished with a 20-5 advantage in shots, including an 11-3 edge in shots on goal. The Warriors also held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. Mujica played all 90 minutes and recorded two saves, while Calhoun and Alvarez combined for seven saves for the Sunbirds.
Warrior Notables
- Stan State finished the regular season 8-5-4 overall and 7-4-2 in the CCAA with 23 conference points.
- The Warriors extended their unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2).
- Stan State scored four goals in a match for the second time this season, matching its 4-0 victory at San Francisco State on Oct. 9.
- Avila scored her fifth goal of the season and 22nd of her career, moving within six goals of Marti Teunissen (2003-06) and Kirsten Coleman (2013-16), who are tied for third in program history with 28. Avila also increased her career point total to 65, one behind Coleman for fourth place.
- Maragos scored her team-leading seventh goal of the season and recorded her fifth assist, increasing her team-leading point total to 19.
- Elbeshity scored her second goal of the season and recorded her first career game-winning goal.
- Do scored her first goal of the season and first of her Stan State career.
- Thao recorded her fifth assist of the season, tying Maragos for the team lead.
- Perez recorded her first assist of the season.
- Mujica recorded two saves, increasing her career total to 139, ranking sixth in program history.
- Stan State improved to 12-0 all-time against Fresno Pacific, including a 7-0 record in Fresno.
- The Warriors finished the regular season 4-2-2 in road matches.
CCAA Tournament History
Stan State secured its seventh straight CCAA Tournament berth, excluding the 2020 and 2021 seasons affected by COVID-19. The Warriors have captured three conference tournament championships (2011, 2013 and 2022) and advanced to the semifinals in each of the last two seasons.
In 2025, Stan State defeated Cal State East Bay 2-1 in the opening round at Warrior Stadium before falling 2-1 in double overtime to Chico State in the semifinals at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. The Warriors also advanced to the semifinals in 2024 after defeating Cal Poly Humboldt 2-0 in the first round.
Stan State has made four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances (2011, 2013, 2014 and 2019), highlighted by the program's 2014 West Region championship.
CCAA Standings
Stan State earned the No. 7 seed in the CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament after finishing the regular season 8-5-4 overall and 7-4-2 in conference play with 23 points. No. 21 Cal Poly Pomona captured the regular-season championship with 28 points (8-1-4), followed by Cal State LA (8-2-3) and Cal State San Bernardino (8-2-3), both with 27 points. UC Merced finished fourth with 25 points (7-2-4), while Cal State Monterey Bay (6-2-5), Cal State San Marcos (7-4-2) and Stan State each finished with 23 points. The Warriors earned the seventh seed through the CCAA's tie-breaking procedures and will face second-seeded Cal State LA in Sunday's first round.
Up Next
Seventh-seeded Stan State will face second-seeded Cal State LA in the first round of the CCAA Women's Soccer Tournament this Sunday, Nov. 1, in Los Angeles, at noon. The winner advances to the semifinals Thursday, Nov. 5, at Kellogg Stadium in Pomona. The championship match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, also at Kellogg Stadium. For more information, check back at warriorathletics.com or goccaa.org/tournaments/?id=155&path=wsoc.
