California Golden Bears Edge Columbia 2-1 in Home Victory, Set to Face North Carolina in ACC Play

The California Golden Bears women's soccer team won a 2‑1 home match against the Columbia Lions on Sunday afternoon at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, California. The victory gives the Bears a 2‑2‑3 record in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play and keeps them in contention for the conference’s postseason tournament.

Reese Doherty opened the scoring in the 16th minute, converting a pass from teammate Elhom Khursand for her first goal of the season. The Bears maintained a narrow lead through the first half and into the early second half. Columbia tied the game in the 65th minute, but the Bears responded with a decisive strike from Miriam Hils in the 88th minute, securing the win.

With the win, California’s overall record stands at 2‑2‑3 in ACC play. The team will travel to North Carolina on September 10 to face the No. 9 ranked Tar Heels. The match is scheduled for 2 p.m. PST and will be broadcast on ACCNX. Fans can follow the Bears’ progress on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

The Golden Bears have a long history in NCAA Division I women’s soccer. According to publicly available records, the program has appeared in the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament 28 times, including three College Cup appearances. The team’s recent seasons have seen a mix of conference and non‑conference play, with the current season’s ACC schedule featuring a mix of ranked and unranked opponents.

The upcoming game against North Carolina will be a key test for the Bears as they seek to improve their conference standing. The result will influence the Bears’ position in the ACC standings and their potential qualification for the conference tournament. The team’s coaching staff and players will look to build on the momentum from the Edwards Stadium win as they prepare for the next chapter of the season.