BOX SCORE

SEASIDE, Calif. — It may have been only two days past, but the Cal State Monterey Bay women's soccer team made a quantum leap forward from Thursday's heartbreaking season opener by shutting out West Region contender Central Washington 1–0 Saturday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex.

Senior forward Jami Murray (Newbury Park/CC of San Francisco) scored for the second time in as many games while the Otter defense gave a composed performance in front of freshman goalkeeper Samantha Webb (Murietta Valley HS), who earned the clean sheet in her first collegiate appearance.

"I think you saw a professional effort out there today," said CSUMB Head Coach Erin Reinke (@Erin_Reinke). "We learned from Thursday's result and took another step forward. Now we need to continue taking those steps as we build towards conference play and giving ourselves a chance to contend for a postseason berth."

The Otters dominated possession and out–shot Central 9–3, although a majority of the Otter efforts came from outside the penalty area. Nevertheless, they needed just one opportunity in this match and Murray seized it in the 19th minute.
 

Courtney Gaardsmoe anchored a strong Otter backline in Saturday's win." width="433" height="472" src="/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=0&image_path=/images/2014/9/6/Gardsmoe_vm_.jpg" />

After some strong setup work from Regan Porteous (Lodi/St. Mary's HS) and Kristen Womack (Roseville/Woodcreek HS) earned a free kick just above the Central penalty area, Murray took advantage of the opportunity by tucking a low effort just inside the left post for her second goal of the season and the ninth of her career.

With the Otter midfielder consistently winning its battles, the Wildcats were forced to play a little more direct than they might have wished in order to generate opportunities. But in their first match of the season, they had trouble finding that groove and five offside flags took much of the wind from Central's sails.

The Otters had a chance to seal the win 10 minutes from time when they earned a penalty for an unfair challenge in the Central box. But Wildcat goalkeeper Kayla Lipston made a diving save to deny Porteous her second goal of the season.

That save set up one final chance for Central to equalize. Substitute Mackenzie Nolte beat the Otter trap to create a partial breakaway, but Webb denied her effort from distance on the final shot of the match from either team.

CSUMB (1–1–0 overall) continues its nonconference slate by traveling up Highway 1 to face UC Santa Cruz Thursday at 2 p.m. The Otters will also play a nonconference match at Sonoma State on Sept. 14 before returning home to host Dominican University in their final pre–CCAA tuneup on Sept. 21.