The women's soccer team's quest for perfection is just one match away after Friday night's commanding 2-0 win over Humboldt State.
The Warriors, ranked No. 6 in this week's NSCAA Coaches top 25, blanked the visiting Lumberjacks, 2-0, on a chilly evening at Warrior Stadium to improve to 15-0-2 overall and 13-0-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
With a win on Sunday, on senior day, the Warriors could become the first CCAA team to finish the regular season undefeated since Sonoma State did it in 1998.
Cal State Stanislaus is also going after another perfect number: to be 11-0 at home at Warrior Stadium during the 2013 regular season. They had already gone unbeaten on the road for the second straight season when they finished 5-0-2 a week ago Friday at Cal State East Bay.
Cal State East Bay will be the Warriors' opponent on Sunday, during senior day, when Stanislaus honors five seniors - Karenee Demery, Emily Relles, Allison Case, Allie Dugan and Apryl Whitney - playing in their final regular season home match.
On this Friday night, the Warriors didn't need the soon-to-be four-time All-American Demery to score a goal for the victory. Two long blasts by Relles and Nebesnick accounted for the scoring this time.
"Tonight was a total team effort out there. We work together and came away with a positive result," head coach Gabriel Bolton said. "We keep improving aspects of our game which is really exciting to see at this point in the season."
First, it was Relles's 20-yard free kick that nearly graced Demery for the 1-0 lead at 8:05. Demery went after the line-shot free kick into the center of the box but missed. However, Relles' blast was with enough force and accuracy that it hit the back of the net for the goal.
Then, in the 53rd minute, a 25-yard blast off the strong leg of Nebesnick gave CSUS the 2-0 lead. Demery did factor in the scoring this time with an assist touching the ball back to Nebesnick when she was doubled. With the assist, Demery has now scored at least a point in nine straight contests (and 13 of the team's 16 matches this season).
In the end, the Warriors picked up another win over Humboldt State - extending their mark over HSU to nine straight victories.
"I'm especially proud of our improvements defensively and our ability to stay mentally focused and in the moment," added Bolton.
The Stanislaus defense again controlled possession and held HSU without a shot - of any kind - until the final two seconds of the match. The attempt by Colette Behen was easily picked up by Chelsea Lewandowski for a save, to preserve the team's ninth shutout. The Warriors have held opponents to two shots on goal or less in 11 matches
Humboldt State dropped its fifth straight and is now 0-10-3 in its last 13 matches to dip to 3-11-3, 1-11-3 CCAA.