Haley Neidig had a pair of goals and an assist, and Emily Esser added two goals to lead the Pitt-Johnstown to a 9-4 PSAC Western Division victory over California (PA), Wednesday afternoon at the Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field.  The Mountain Cats, who improved to 3-6-0 overall and 2-5-0 in conference-play, also got a goal and two assists from Morgan Kost.
 
The Mountain Cats jumped on the Vulcans for three goals in the first nine minutes.  Esser finished Neidig's first assist two minutes into the match, before Neidig scored in the third and ninth minutes.
 
After Juliana Cruz got Cal U on the scoreboard three minutes later, Lydia Roman scored her sixth goal of the season off of an assist from Kost to get that goal right back.
 
The Vulcans added another goal in the 23^rd minute, but Pitt-Johnstown answered to take a 5-2 advantage into the halftime break on a Mary Reese goal in the 43^rd minute.
 
Cruz's second goal of the day to open the second half got the Vulcans back to with two, but Esser and Sophia Lamesta each found the back of the net in a three minute span to make it 7-3.
 
Cal U was able to add one more goal in the 69^th minute, but the Mountain Cats closed out the scoring and set the final at 9-4 on Kost's goal with 11 minutes to play and Natalie Buza's goal of Mia Dirienzo's assist in the final minute.
 
Megan Giesey and Sachi Negri each played 45 minutes in goal for the Mountain Cats, who outshot the Vulcans, 40-14. Giesey and Negri each made one save and surrendered two goals apiece.
 
Cal U's Emily Ouimet started in net and allowed five goals, while making 10 saves.  Katie Ramaley played the second half in goal and gave up four goals.  Ramaly made one save.
 
With the loss, the Vulcans fell to 0-7-0 overall and 0-6-0 in the PSAC West.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will host a PSAC West match against Edinboro on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Pitt-Johnstown Soccer Field, before traveling to Gannon for a conference match on October 9.