BERKELEY– Senior Karlie Lema’s first career hat trick led the California women’s soccer team to a 4-1 win over visiting Nevada Thursday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. The Golden Bears have now won four straight matches and hold a 15-5 goal differential during that streak.
Cal now boasts a 5-1-1 record while the Wolf Pack fell to 2-3-0.
Lema entered the match tied with No. 9 Notre Dame’s Izzy Engle for top scorer in the ACC with six goals and ended the day as the nation’s leading scorer with nine. She now has three multi-goal games this season and is averaging 1.28 goals per game.
It took all of six minutes and 20 seconds for Lema to get the Bears on the scoreboard. Cal ran a set piece after being fouled in the middle third and played the free kick into the 18-yard box. Junior Alex Klos tapped a ball out to graduate student Julia Leontini who quickly redirected it into Lema. After one touch the Morgan Hill, CA native turned and fired in her seventh goal of the season.
Her ACC-leading 7th goal of the season also sets a new career-high for Karlie Lema! ??
Julia Leontini and Alex Klos pick up the assist.#GoBears ?? pic.twitter.com/uYhpxt6kLW
— Cal Women’s Soccer (@CalWSoc) September 5, 2024
The Bears’ 1-0 lead lasted the rest of the half with Cal outshooting Nevada 9-3. The Wolf Pack quickly tied the match at the start of the second period with a goal from Lauren Muff in the 48th minute.
Lema’s second game winner of the season came in the 56th minute as freshman Kenley Whittaker…
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