LA JOLLA, Calif. -- After playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation and extra time, the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team captured its third CCAA Tournament championship in its history with a 5-4 win in penalty kicks over top-seed and No. 3-ranked Cal State LA on Sunday afternoon at Triton Soccer Stadium in La Jolla.
The Broncos (12-4-3) have earned the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship Tournament; it will be the fifth straight season CPP has appeared in the NCAA Tournament. It is the first conference tournament title for CPP since the Broncos won back-to-back banners in 2014 and 2015.
Hear what CPP head coach
Matt O'Sullivan,
Jordan Aldama and
Cyro Oliveira had to say about capturing the conference tournament banner
HERE.
The Golden Eagles (16-0-2) remain unbeaten on the year, and despite Sunday's result, they are expected to also qualify for the NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection.
The 40-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be unveiled Monday at 3:30 pm via a live selection show at NCAA.com. The Broncos entered the week as the No. 7-ranked team in Super Region 4; the top 10 from each Super Region will compete for the National title.
On Sunday,
Cyro Oliveira gave CPP the 1-0 lead with just 16 seconds left before halftime on a penalty kick.
It wasn't until the 80th minute that the Golden Eagles evened the match at 1-1 on a bicycle kick from Carl Solli in the box. Neither team would score again the rest of the way, pushing the conference tournament final to PK's.
All five of CPP's kickers buried their shot against CSULA goalkeeper Alex Brems, and it was the second CSULA attempt by Morten Bjoershol that banged off the crossbar and missed, accounting for the Broncos' triumph in the shootout.
In the 110-minute affair, CSULA held the narrow shot advantage (13-12), including 7-4 on goal. The CCAA Tournament Most Valuable Defensive Player and CPP goalkeeper
Jordan Aldama made six saves in the contest, while CSULA's Brems made three. With the first-half PK and an assist on the game-winner in Friday's match against UC San Diego, Oliveira was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Offensive Player.
Also named to the CCAA All-Tournament Team for Cal Poly Pomona was
Jimmie Villalobos,
Jason Ramos,
Eduardo Faria and
Jordan Jackmon.
