When former Cal Poly soccer goalie Alyssa Giannetti met me on-campus on Friday afternoon, she had her skateboard under her arm and her last final behind her. After two years playing professional soccer in Finland, Giannetti came back to Cal Poly to finish her degree. 

In our conversation, she discussed choosing Cal Poly in part because it was a good surfing school, other reasons she chose Cal Poly, how she became a professional soccer player, and what’s ahead now that her soccer career is over. 

Last week, I got a message from Elise Krieghoff. It was simply a video that showed Krieghoff scoring on a bicycle kick in the professional league, where she plays in Norway. Krieghoff, Cal Poly’s all-time leading scorer, had a stint as a pro with the Boston Breakers of the US-based NWSL before moving to Norway this season.

The goal by itself is just rad, but the other shoe dropped when Krieghoff told me who the keeper was — former teammate Alyssa Giannetti. Giannetti also plays in the Norwegian league, and her former teammate’s goalazo came directly at her expense. 

I still think this goal Krieghoff scored in college was even better. 

Together, Giannetti and Krieghoff led Cal Poly women’s soccer to a pretty great three-year run. During their first three seasons, the Mustangs were 18-4-2 in Big West play, won a Big West regular season title, and earned the right to host the Big West Tournament. 

When I tweeted the video, Giannetti’s response was great:

It was only a matter of time before this surfaced haha

— Alyssa Giannetti (@AlyssaRozae) September 9, 2017

Props to Alyssa being a wonderful sport about the whole thing. Props to Elise for an amazing goal. 

It’s always fun when I can get footage of a Cal Poly athlete playing professionally. Ride High, ladies. 

On Friday night, Cal Poly women’s soccer hosted the second-ranked team in the country and 83 minutes into the game, it looked as though they may at least escape with a tie.

Unfortunately for Alex Crozier, Ry Walker-Hartshorn spun and fired a shot past a sprawling Alyssa Giannetti for the game’s only goal. Giannetti, who holds the Cal Poly all-time saves lead, added seven to her career total in the game.

Cal Poly, who was without top scorer Elise Krieghoff, managed three shots in the game — none on-goal.

Photos by Owen Main