SANTA CRUZ, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz women's soccer team fought to a 0-0 tie with the Linfield Wildcats on Friday afternoon to kick off the 2025 season. The Banana Slugs outshot Linfield 11-3 with seven shots on goal to the Wildcats' one. UC Santa Cruz will be back in action on Sunday when they take on the University of Chicago Maroons at 12:30 p.m.

How It Happened
The Banana Slugs took the first shot of the game in the fourth minute off the foot of Camille Anneet but the contest settled down with Linfield responding with a shot of their own in the 11th minute. The game's first dangerous attempt came in the 12th with Sydney Boyd putting a shot on frame. Boyd made another good attempt in the 18th minute with another shot on frame but back to back saves from the Linfield keeper kept UCSC off the board. Linfield tested Ainsley Gove in the 21st minute with a shot on frame but Gove was there to make the save. UC Santa Cruz maintained their pressure the rest of the half, outshooting Linfield 4-1 with Tiana Stouch putting one on frame in the 43rd minute.

The Banana Slugs stifled the Linfield attack in the second half as they made sure they didn't take a shot in the final 45 minutes while adding four of their own to the stat sheet. Emilie Brack and Camille Anneet both put two shots on goal, but the Wildcats' keeper made all four saves to end the contest tied 0-0.