Cuesta Women's Soccer is back on the pitch after suspending the 2022 season after only four contests. The Cuesta Kickers travelled to Visalia to open their 2023 campaign against College of the Sequoias. The Giants, who were a playoff team in 2022, scored the first goal of the game with just three minutes left in the opening half, but added another right after the intermission. The Cougars, with 30 minutes left in the game, cut the lead in half when Sophomore CeeCee Tucker (pict) scored off a pass from Freshman Lyndsey Mitchell for their first goal of the season. Unfortunately, the Cougars were unable to connect on another winner, while the Giants scored the clincher at the 20-minute mark to take the game, 3-1. On defense, Cuesta Goaltenders Erika Enriquez and Averi Nerpel combined for nine saves for the Cougars with Enriquez taking the decision. The Cougars are 0-1 on the season as try to rebound from 2022's suspended season, which lasted only four games (0-3-1). The Cougars last victory came against local rival Allan Hancock on November 2, 2021, which was only eight games ago.
Second-year Coach Kaleb Lique Naitove and his team returns to the "Cuesta Expanse" this Friday (3 PM) to host Taft. It has been ten seasons since Cuesta Cougars last played the 'other' Cougars on September 20, 2014. Cuesta Women's Soccer, which is in its 28th season, has never fallen below .500. The program's record currently stands at 243-239-72
