SAN BERNADINO, Calif.-- Women's soccer opened the 2025 season with a well-played 2-0 win over Cal State Bernardino at Premier Field on Thursday afternoon. Five Lions were involved in the goalscoring, which included two freshman faces, as Kate Burns and Lindsey Hiraki both collected their first career points with an assist each.

VU only took four and a half minutes to place the Yotes on the back foot as Rachel Penick netted her 11th career goal to shoot the Lions ahead early on.

Despite a CSUSB resurgence to test the Blue and Gold, VU absorbed the pressure and doubled its advantage through Francesca Lindstrom in the 38th minute, ensuring a road win in the season opener.

The Lions kick off their season at 1-0, with their result over CSUSB (0-1) marking the first program win against the Coyotes since the two teams first met in 1993.

What Happened?
The new look Lions were off to the races from the opening kick. Hannah Caira won the ball in the VU half and charged up the right side of the pitch to spark the attack. The ball then found Hailey Garvin, as her tidy passing and Burns swift movement off the ball combined to present the opening for Penick. Settling the back at the right side of the box, the midfielder made no mistake as Penick pelted a fierce strike through the heart of the frame for VU's first goal of the season.

The Yotes nearly snatched an equalizer just two minutes later off an inswinging corner kick, but Olivia Weidner kept her palms glued on the ball, diffusing the oncoming header and supplying her first career save for the Blue and Gold.

CSUSB slowly crept their way onto the front foot for the next 20 minutes of play. Sydney Powell's swipe to the bottom corner, and Hannah Caira's driven effort toward the upper stanchion, were VU's only goalward outlets amid an intense spell of pressure. Weidner came up with a show-stopping save in the 20th minute, making a sharp dive to her right to halt a Coyote one-on-one opportunity.

The tempo-shifting goal came within the final 10 minutes of the interval, as Hiraki used her space deep in midfield to enlist Lindstrom forward with a floated through ball. Lindstrom was away, making use of her pace to drive the ball through the channel and clip the Coyote keeper, doubling the Lion lead at the half.

The window for goals closed in the second period with neither team finding the back of the net. The Yotes continued to outshoot the Lions, however, leading 9-4 in total shots and 4-1 in shots on goal. Weidner's seven-save debut performance proved to be the key to keeping the danger at bay, as the keeper came up with four strong stops in the second half to cement the win on opening day.

What's Next?
The Lions take a day to rest before heading to Carson to face Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday, September 6, at 7 pm.