POMONA – For the first time in a long time, Cal Poly Pomona found itself trailing. Despite that, and the playing a man down for the final 33 minutes, the Broncos pulled out a 2-1 comeback victory over Humboldt State.
CPP improves to 10-2-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the CCAA with its seventh-straight win, securing a spot in the conference tournament in the process. The Lumberjacks drop to 10-3-2 on the year and 4-3-2 in conference.
The Jacks broke the Broncos' 537-minute shutout streak in the eighth minute of action to put pressure on the home squad to find a response.
To make matters worse, the Broncos were dealt a red card in the 57
th minute where they had to finish the last third of the game playing with 10 men.
Still, CPP turned up the intensity and finally broke through in the 79
th minute.
Christian Miramontes drove in a rolling cross to the top of the six-yard box where
Jerry Ramirez spun to redirect it into the far post for the equalizer.
Less than two minutes later, the Broncos struck again. After CPP earned a free kick in its own half,
Cesar Ruvalcaba sent a long ball down the left side to
Eduardo Faria. The senior midfielder evaded two defenders, set up his shot and fired a low ball past the outstretched goalkeeper into the side netting to put the Broncos in front.
The Broncos closed out the remaining 10 minutes to secure the 2-1 victory and stay in the contention for the regular-season CCAA title.
CPP hosts Chico State on Sunday at 11:30 a.m., before finishing the regular season at Cal State L.A. – which currently holds the top spot in the conference standings – on Nov. 4.
