POMONA, Calif. - On Friday afternoon at Kellogg Stadium, No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona showcased postseason composure and resilience, defeating No. 7 seed Cal Poly Humboldt 1-0 to advance to Sunday's NCAA Second Round. Just a week after Humboldt knocked the Broncos out of the CCAA Tournament semifinals, CPP responded with a focused and disciplined performance at home to keep their NCAA run alive.

Head coach Jay Mason said the group came in ready for a physical battle, even with only a week separating the two meetings. "It was another playoff game, and a pretty familiar foe," Mason said. "I was really, really impressed with our group's ability to have some composure early in the half. I thought the girls did a really good job of trusting each other and creating some good chances."

Cal Poly Pomona broke through in the 31st minute after a stretch of sustained pressure. Abria Smith found Kiarra D'Arcangelo at the top of the box, and the sophomore forward drilled a low strike to score the game-winning goal. For D'Arcangelo, it was an incredible moment. "I think our team has worked so hard this season trying to score goals, and to finally get that opportunity—even needing just one goal after all of us working so hard under pressure, pushing forward, and finding the ball at the top of the box—was amazing. The reaction of everyone coming together, the team atmosphere, and the shared joy made it an incredible feeling." 

The Broncos' defensive unit carried the match from there. Senior Liberty Ortiz and junior Mikaela Marr anchored a back line that allowed just four shots all afternoon and consistently disrupted Humboldt's attempts to counter. Goalkeeper Jenna Tetrault made two key saves, including one early in the match that helped steady CPP.

As Humboldt increased their physicality in the second half, CPP stayed composed, using smart rotations and disciplined defensive play to limit dangerous chances. Mason pointed to his team's improved connectivity and commitment to winning first and second balls in the moments when the match grew chaotic. "Usually the team that can control the first and second ball battles tends to control momentum," he said. "I felt like they were more connected tonight and a little more dialed in."

Ortiz, one of the seniors leading the charge, said the win carried emotional weight. "It was beautiful," she said. "Every game against them is physical. But doing it with people that you love makes the victory that much sweeter. Experience helps, but it was about focusing on our basics and treating it like any other game."

Cal Poly Pomona finished with a 16-4 shot advantage and six shots on goal, controlling the match from front to back and responding with the maturity of a No. 2 seed defending its home turf.

CAL POLY DUB ‼️@cppwsoccer defeats Cal Poly Humboldt 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament! Kiarra D'Arcangelo scored the lone goal of the game in the 32nd minute.

The Broncos will now take on Simon Fraser on Sunday at 3:00 PM at Kellogg Stadium. #WeAreCPP pic.twitter.com/5Vx7EiZ7sV

— Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (@cppbroncos) November 22, 2025

Up Next:
The Broncos will face Simon Fraser in the NCAA Second Round on Sunday, November 23^rd at 3:00 PM in Pomona, Calif.

Bronco Bits:

• Jay Mason is now 97-50-26 as the head coach of the Broncos
• The Broncos are 14-10-2 all time against Cal Poly Humboldt
• Cal Poly Pomona is now 15-2-3 overall
• Now in its 42nd season, CPP Women's Soccer is 406-304-94 all-time with a 220-147-58 record in CCAA matches.
• Kiarra D'Arcangelo scored her first goal of the season
• This is the fourth time in program history that the Broncos have made it to the NCAA second round