CALIFORNIA (Oct. 12) – Despite tying the match early in the second half on Saturday afternoon, the Vulcans suffered a 3-1 loss against IUP on Homecoming in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer team drops to 3-7 this season behind a 2-7 record in conference play. Meanwhile, the Crimson Hawks extend their winning streak to three-straight games and improve to 6-4 overall with a 5-4 mark in divisional action.
 
The Vulcans pressured the net in the opening five minutes after registering two shots and a pair of corner kicks. IUP mounted a counter attack just minutes later and Taylor Karan scored off a rebound from an initial save to take an early 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute. Mahogany Willis recorded an assist on the play after entering play as the Atlantic Region leader in points and goals. The Crimson Hawks nearly added to the lead at the 19:51-mark, as a shot from Willis went left of the net. Cal U countered with a pair of corner kicks before two shots were saved by the IUP goalkeeper in just over the span of a minute. Junior goalkeeper Gianna Sinatra (Moon Twp., Pa./Moon) would collect a save late in the first half, as the Vulcans trailed by a 1-0 margin at the break.  
 
In the second half, Cal U immediately pushed into the offensive half of the field and saw a shot saved in the 47th minute. Freshman Lindsie Galbreath (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) delivered a goal to the far post into the top left-corner, her second goal of the season, to tie the game at 1-1 in the 52nd minute. Junior Kellie Lynch (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) earned an assist on the play after sending the through ball to Galbreath from around midfield. The Vulcans continued to pressure the Crimson Hawk defense with three more shots on goal, including a pair from Galbreath. IUP answered just moments later on a counter attack to take a 2-1 lead at the 57:57-mark on a goal from Mya Hillard with an assist to Willis. Sophomore Bethany Decker (Carlisle, Pa./Boling Springs) nearly tied the game after seeing two chances go just left of the goal in the 61st minute. Cal U saw limited chances for the remainder of the contest, as the Crimson Hawks added an insurance goal by Karan, her second of the game, after scoring off a rebound off the crossbar at the 88:56-mark.
 
IUP and Cal U both tallied 13 shots in the match, as the Vulcans held an 8-7 edge in shots on goal and an 11-8 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Sinatra completed the match with four saves on 13 shots faced in 90 minutes of action.
 
The Vulcans return to divisional action on Wednesday, Oct. 16, when they travel to face Clarion at 7 p.m.