|
|
1 |
2 |
F |
Sonoma State (5-2-0, 4-1-0 CCAA)
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cal Poly Pomona (5-2-0, 4-1-0 CCAA)
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Goalkeepers |
Minutes |
GA |
Saves |
SSU - Andrew Ball
|
90:00 |
1 |
1
|
|
CPP - Andrew Todd |
90:00 |
0 |
7
|
POMONA, Calif. - An enthusiastic crowd of 877 fans witnessed a dramatic match at Kellogg Field Friday night. In a defensive struggle that featured 33 fouls and eight cautions, the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team topped nationally-ranked Sonoma State 1-0 with a first-half goal from senior
Luis Gonzalez.
The Broncos remain atop the conference's South Division standings at 5-2-0 overall and 4-1-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The 4-1 mark is the best start to a conference season since 1997 for the CPP program. The result marks the first CCAA loss for the Seawolves of SSU, who drop to 5-2-0 overall and 4-1-0 through league action.
The Seawolves entered the match ranked at No. 21 nationally in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 and third in the West Region. Up next for CPP will be a 2 p.m. match Sunday against Humboldt State at Kellogg Field.
The score by Gonzalez was No. 17 of his career, a total that ties him fifth all-time for the Broncos' leaderboards with
Tyler Reinhart and Jonathan Bornstein.
Sophomore goalkeeper
Andrew Todd turned in another solid performance for CPP, as the Half Moon Bay, Calif., native tallied seven saves while facing the high-powered SSU attack.
About midway through the first half, the Seawolves put together a significant chance as Nico Spann and Justin Ferreira combined for a slick give-and-go into the box. Ferreira ended up lining a shot off the right post from about eight yards out but it bounced away from danger after that.
Gonzalez, with his teammates finding him in the attacking zone time and time again, found himself in the box and the ball at his feet at the 25:05 mark. Receiving a cross from
Liam Hall, he controlled the ball and shot with his left foot, but the ball curled to the right of the net.
Less than five minutes later, Gonzalez managed to find the back of the net. After
Juan Mejia played a ball up the left side, Seawolves' goalkeeper Andrew Ball collided with his own teammate after charging out of his box. The ball squirted into open space and Gonzalez was able to dribble toward the net on his own and place it softly across the line.
After four yellow cards were issued in the opening half, play continued to be chippy beyond the intermission. SSU's chances took a hit in the 52nd minute when midfielder Michel Arroyo was given a straight red card after elbowing a Broncos' player after the whistle was blown on another foul.
Despite competing with one less player, the Seawolves' offense put together its best chances in the final 35 minutes of the match. Moments after Arroyo left the field, a free kick by SSU's Trevor Hurst bent low along the ground before Todd made a nice stop on it. A couple minutes following that play, the Broncos countered with a chance as Mejia knocked a shot off the right post.
The final two minutes proved to be frenetic in the CPP defensive box, with the Seawolves earning three corner kick attempts in that short span. The second of the three ended with a Ferreira header bouncing off the crossbar.
In the end though, the Broncos held on for the 1-0 victory and CPP now holds a one-point lead over Cal State L.A. in the South Division standings.
