California Golden Bears Athletics
California
Cal State Fullerton
Bears Set For Cal State Fullerton, No. 22 Louisville
9/7/2026 2:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Cal Closes Three-Game Homestand Before Heading To Ranked ACC Foe
The California men's soccer team hosts Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday to conclude its three-game homestand before heading to No. 22 Louisville on Sunday to continue ACC play. The Golden Bears enter the week 1-0-3 after back-to-back 2-2 draws against No. 12 UCLA and North Carolina.
MATCH INFORMATION
Cal State Fullerton
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Date and Time: Wednesday, Sep. 9, at 4 p.m. PT
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Location: Berkeley, CA | Edwards Stadium
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Live Stream: ACCNX
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Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Louisville
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Date and Time: Sunday, Sep. 13, at 12 p.m. PT
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Location: Louisville, KY | Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium
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Live Stream: ACCNX
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Live Stats: Statbroadcast
On The Board
Junhwan Park netted Cal's first goal of the season against Santa Clara, a 78th-minute beauty that secured the Bears' first win of the season. Since then, Cal has hit a stride offensively, scoring two goals in each of its next two games.
The Bears followed up their first goal of the season with a two-goal performance against No. 12 UCLA, with Malcom Zalayet netting the first of the match and Kai Oppenheim scoring a 90th-minute equalizer to secure the draw against the nationally ranked Bruins. Park and Callen Lewis each found the net against North Carolina, with Park becoming the first Bear to score multiple goals this season.
A Shutout Start
Cal was one of just three teams to record a shutout against a top-25-ranked opponent in its season opener. The Bears held No. 6 Portland, a team that scored 40-plus goals during the 2025 season, to a clean sheet.
The Bears extended their shutout streak to back-to-back matches after holding Santa Clara scoreless in their second contest. The shutout streak came to an end at 241 minutes, with Cal allowing its first goal of the season against No. 12 UCLA.
Honor Roll
After a stunning performance in the season opener, junior defender Beau Morrison took home the first ACC Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season. Morrison was a key piece on the back line in the Bears' scoreless draw against No. 6 Portland, recording a tremendous goal-line clearance to secure the shutout against the Pilots.
2025 Recap
Cal posted an overall record of 8-8-2 with a 2-5-1 mark in ACC play. The Bears finished 12th in the ACC during the regular season, advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament before falling to the No. 1 seed Virginia.
The two regular-season conference wins came in the ACC opener at Boston College and to close the regular season at home against No. 1 ranked Stanford, preventing the Cardinal from clinching the ACC regular-season title and snapping a 10-game win streak.
The Bears graduated leading goal scorer Luka Lukic, but return Malcom Zalayet, who ranked second in goals and points for Cal last season. Cal also retained key defensive pieces in Beau Morrison and D'Andre Pickett, with Morrison one of two players to start all 18 games for the Bears during the 2025 season.
Year 3
Cal enters year three in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In its two years in the conference, Cal has pushed all the way to the semifinals of the ACC tournament as both a No. 11 and a No. 12 seed in consecutive years.
Eyes on Flo
Senior transfer Florentino Junior was named to the ACC Preseason Watch List. The two-time NJCAA National Champion and 2024 NJCAA All-American will be a key piece for the Golden Bears entering the 2026 season.
STAY POSTED
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