The California Golden Bears began their 2026 men's soccer campaign with a tightly contested 0‑0 draw against Portland, a program that entered the match ranked inside the nation's top ten, and the Bears preserved a clean sheet throughout.
A Defensive Masterclass
From the outset the Bears organized defensively, limiting Portland to just seven attempts in the first half and forcing the opposition to rely on long‑range efforts that were comfortably repelled.
Offensively, the Bears generated chances through a trio of attackers, with Callen Lewis emerging as the decisive figure after striking the only goal of the game. Supporting him, Lucca Guimaraes, Kai Oppenheim and Malcom Zalayet each contributed four shots, underscoring a balanced attacking approach.
Between the posts, Adam Salama made his debut as a starter and delivered three saves, the most notable coming in the 85th minute when he denied a late Portland surge, preserving the shutout.
Looking Ahead
The Bears will now travel to face Santa Clara on August 27, a match that will be streamed live on ESPN+, continuing the early‑season road swing.