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The Cal women’s soccer team doubled their pleasure Sunday, beating Oregon 4-0 to set the school record for victories with 17 on the year, then gathering to watch the NCAA Selection Show at night. There the Bears learned they earned a first-round bye and the No. 8 seed in the tournament, assuring them of at least two home games to start the post-season. 

“Our first priority was getting that bye,” head coach Kevin Boyd said. “We got the seed too, and we’re happy with both.” 

The Bears (17-2-1, 7-2 Pac-10) will play the winner of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo-Santa Clara match taking place Wednesday. Boyd said Santa Clara should be the heavy favorite in the first-round game. 

Whoever wins the match will come into Edwards Stadium on Saturday facing a team that is looking forward to a long run in the tournament. 

“We’re confident we can go a lot deeper than the last two years (both first-round road losses),” said senior goalkeeper Maite Zabala. “This is the best team we’ve had in my four years here.” 

The Bears showed a variety of firepower in their game against the Ducks (4-15-1, 1-7-1). With sophomore Laura Schott, the nation’s leading scorer, out with a leg injury, four different Cal players scored goals in a fast-paced game.  

Schott sat out the game despite having a chance to break the Cal season scoring record. After scoring her 23rd goal of the year Friday against Oregon State, Schott is tied with Joy Fawcett at the top of the school’s record books. 

“Laura could have played, but we just didn’t want to put her in a situation where it could get worse,” Boyd said. “We were struggling whether to put her in for a shot at the record, but the conclusion was that we need her healthy for the playoffs. 

Senior forward Regina Holan didn’t score, but she dealt out three assists, including two great crosses in the first half that were finished easily by Lucie Brining and Krysti Whalen in the third and 25th minutes, respectively. Holan has battled injuries all season, and is just now getting healthy. 

“Reggie has been coming on strong in the past couple of weeks,” Boyd said. “We wanted to get her ready for the playoffs, and today is an indication that she’s ready.” 

The second half saw more scoring by the Bears, as freshman defender Kathleen Cain finished off of a nice through-ball from midfielder Jennifer Medina, who had two assists in the game. Just four minutes later, midfielder Lee Ann Morton pounced on a loose ball in front of the Oregon net and coolly slipped the ball past Duck ’keeper Jeanine Norstad for the final goal of the game. 

The shutout gave Zabala 26.5 in her career, extending her school record. Zabala made several point-blank saves, but only faced four total shots in the game as the Bears outshot their opponents 17-4. 

“The records are nice, but I’m just looking to help this team go as far as it can,” Zabala said. “Hopefully, that’s to the national championship.” 

The victory clinched second place in the Pac-10 for the Bears, as UCLA lost to Arizona State Friday.  

Seven Pac-10 teams made the tournament, the most ever for the conference and tops in the country this year. 

“There’s been a bias against the west in past years,” Cal sweeper Tami Pivnik said. “I think this shows that we’re the number-one conference in the country.”