POMONA - Cal Poly Pomona got a long-distance goal from Tara Oper to rally for a 2-2 tie with Westmont College in non-conference women's soccer action at Kellogg Stadium on Thursday evening.

The match served as the 2023 season opener for both CPP (0-0-1) and Westmont (0-0-1). The Warriors, out of Santa Barbara, are brand-new members of the NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference (PacWest), having reclassified from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They were picked fifth in the PacWest's preseason poll, while the Broncos are favored for fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Oper, a junior forward out of Riverside, struck the second-half equalizer from outside of 25 years. It was the Idaho transfer's first collegiate goal, having provided a team-leading three assists as a first-year Bronco in 2022, and one assist for the Division I Vandals as a freshman in 2021.

Cal Poly Pomona actually came back twice from a one-goal deficit. The visitors opened the scoring early through a seventh-minute Grace Duckens tap-in, the 19th goal of the fifth-year senior's career. True freshman Sydney Reese provided the setup in her college debut.

Jaclyn Cuevas leveled matters several minutes later, finding the back of the net high over the Westmont goalie with Oper assisting. The goal marked the first collegiately for the true junior from Ramona.

Junior Warrior forward Amarys Machado's 10th career goal regained a 2-1 edge for the visitors in the second half.

Fourth-year junior Bella Hara, a first-year transfer from another PacWest foe in Azusa Pacific, drew the start in goal for Cal Poly Pomona. Maya Pablos and Ellie Ludwig split the contest evenly in the Westmont net.

Thursday night's result moves eighth-year CPP head coach Jay Mason to a still-even 3-3-1 in season openers.

Cal Poly Pomona now faces a two-match road stretch, both also against PacWest opposition. The Broncos are first at rival APU this Saturday night, Sept. 2, for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with the Cougars.

Home matches and CCAA away contests stream live online via the CCAA Network at www.ccaanetwork.com. Fans can also download the CCAA Network app on an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet, and through web streaming devices such as Amazon Fire, Roku and Apple TV. Subscribers have access to all CCAA broadcasts, both live and on-demand, for the low monthly price of $9.95. Over half of each monthly subscription purchase goes directly back to the CCAA athletics department of your choice to support the student-athlete experience. Sign-ups are available right now at each university's network portal. Just go to CCAAnetwork.com, select your favorite team at the top and click the 'Subscribe' button.

CPP Athletics has gone cashless! Tickets are on sale now for all CPP soccer home matches. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to coming to campus at broncoathletics.com/tickets or by downloading the HomeTown Fan app on your smartphone or tablet. Again this year, only debit and credit cards will be accepted at the box office for admission. Limited concession items will be on sale on-site as well, and the concession stand will also only accept debit and credit cards.

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