ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Women's Soccer wrapped up its inaugural season in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) on Wednesday, falling 2-0 to Cal State Monterey Bay at home. The Oaks created several early scoring opportunities and battled throughout the afternoon but were unable to find the back of the net in their regular-season finale.
Oak Highlights
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The Oaks recorded multiple early scoring opportunities, putting pressure on the Otters in the opening 30 minutes.
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Ella Liebhart and Ashley Tasev each stepped in at goal during the Oaks 90 minute fight.
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Shots on goal were contributed from Avery Grieve (2), Kaiden Rathfon (1), Judd Eldredge Sagapolutele (1), and Nalia Keyes (1).
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The match marked the conclusion of Menlo's inaugural season competing in the CCAA.
Women's Soccer Concludes 2026 Campaign
Menlo came out aggressively, generating several scoring opportunities in the opening minutes. Aaliyah Alatorre, Isabel Amador and Avery Grieve each tested the Otters' defense early, while Olivia Sams and Judd Eldredge Sagapolutele continued to put pressure on the Cal State Monterey Bay back line. Grieve created two particularly promising opportunities midway through the first half, forcing consecutive saves from the Otters goalkeeper. Despite the early offensive pressure, the two sides entered halftime scoreless.
Cal State Monterey Bay broke through shortly after the intermission, finding the opening goal in the 48th minute. The Otters added another just three minutes later to extend their advantage to 2-0. The Oaks continued searching for an answer, with Tae Detwiler, Kaiden Rathfon and Nalia Keyes each registering second-half attempts. Rathfon and Keyes both forced saves from the Otters as Menlo looked to get back into the contest. Despite the continued effort, the Otters held on to secure the victory.
A Historic First Season in the CCAA
Menlo closes its first season of CCAA competition with a 4-11-3 overall record, highlighted by its first conference victory during OAKtoberfest weekend. The Oaks earned a memorable 2-1 win over Stanislaus State in front of the home crowd, marking a milestone moment in the program's transition to Division II competition. Across the season, Menlo found the back of the net 18 times, with nine different players contributing to the scoring effort as the Oaks established the foundation for their future in the CCAA.
