HAYWARD, Calif.– Five freshman started and the Carlo Basso coaching era opened with a scoreless road draw against Cal State East Bay Friday evening at Pioneer Stadium but it was sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Loewen who saved the day.

Loewen faced two penalty shots in the game, one in each half. In the 33^rd minute Loewen made the right read and stopped Mika Sayfurahman to keep the score tied. Loewen did it again in the 81^st minute when Pioneers defender Sara Redfield took a penalty kick with the game hanging in the balance and missed wide.

Making his head coaching debut for the Red Leafs, former men's soccer star Carlo Basso started freshmen Alyssa Clark, Noémie Ntumba Merlen and Jensa Napier-Ganley in midfield and Kiera Scott and Sarah Caravatta up front. They delivered a gritty performance in their first taste of NCAA action, holding the Pioneers to a draw. All but Merlens are true freshmen.

It was a tight, back and forth contest where neither team was able to establish dangerous chances, other than the two penalty shots. The Red Leafs managed two shots on goal while the Pioneers had three shots on target.

The Pioneers held a slight advantage in possession, 54% to 46%, and had eight corner kicks to SFU's five. But on the scoreboard the teams were even and Loewen earned the clean sheet.

The Red Leafs will continue its non-conference schedule with a game Sunday against Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif, that begins at noon.

#RepTheLeaf