Goal scorers: Brenda Uribe (2)
The Storm hosted one of the newest teams in California, USL W League’s Stockton Cargo, on Wednesday evening. Without ever having played the Cargo, it was going to be a test of the Storm’s ability to pivot and adjust on the fly depending on how their opponents played.
The game opened up very quickly, with a goal by CSU Monterey Bay’s Brenda Uribe. This is the midfielder’s second year in a Storm jersey, having played an important part in the club’s successful 2022 season in the WPSL. In the 6th minute of play, Camryn Lancaster took a quick throw in which Paloma Daubert received up the field. Staying onside, she crossed the ball into the scrum in front of the box and in the confusion, Uribe took her opportunity and fired the ball into the net.
The Storm had barely reset before the Cargo evened it out. Alexis Brewah received a ball over the heads of the Storm defense and calmly slot it passed Storm goalkeeper Abbie Faingold. This would be the Cargo’s only goal of the day, but would not be the last goal of the game.
Not 5 minutes later, in the 11th minute, Giana Rile—hero of the game on May 21st in the Storm home opener—bounced a gently falling ball forward and into the path of an overlapping Uribe. Uribe, without slowing her stride, collected the ball at the top of the box. The goalkeeper came out to make the save but was unable to get her hands on the ball and Uribe guided the ball the rest of the way into the box.
The rest of the match was goalless but not quiet. The Cargo and Storm traded free kicks in dangerous territory, corners that amounted into devastating shots on goal, and both goalkeepers had to come up big multiple times. The game ended 2-1 after 3 minutes of stoppage time and the Storm ended the night with another 3 points.
“I thought the squad adjusted well in the match to problem solve some of the situations that Stockton presented to us,” said Coach and Technical Director Chris Malenab. “We have a group of players with a high soccer IQ which allows us to make those changes as needed in match.”
The Storm is on the road for their next match. They face Fresno Freeze of the WPSL on Saturday and on Sunday, they face Olympic Club of the USL W League in San Francisco.
"With 2 games played we have found a rhythm,” said Coach Malenab. “Now we will be tested by having to play our first game on the road. I know the group is ready for this next opportunity to play against a good side in The Olympic Club.”
To buy tickets to the next home match on Friday, June 2nd, against SF Glens SC, click here.
Tag(s): News
