The Gael women's soccer team bounced back from the 8-1 debacle against Colorado last week to beat Texas 2-1 today in Berkeley. It was a tough, hard-fought game and revealed the changes new coach Kai Edwards has brought with him. He is a bear of a man, constantly prowling the sidelines and exhorting the team to fight for every ball in the air and contest every loose ball. The Gaels are responding with an aggressive, high-spirited brand of soccer. The Texas fans in the crowd were constantly bellyaching, calling for yellow cards, red cards, expulsions, etc., but the game was not dirty -- just tough.

Edwards' recruits are taking hold also, as both goals were scored by freshmen -- Daelyn Paul of Upland and Christina Tognetti of Santa Rosa -- and another frosh, Caroline Kreuz of Lincoln High School in Portland, is an intimidating back line presence that the Gaels haven't had in several years. This is definitely a bunch that Edwards can turn into something.