DALLAS, Texas - For the second straight year, Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer is Final Four bound, and once again, the road ran straight through the nation's top-ranked team. The Broncos delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over No. 1 Dallas Baptist in Saturday's NCAA Quarterfinal, marking the second consecutive season Cal Poly Pomona has eliminated the nation's No. 1 team at this stage. The win also carried historic significance, as Head Coach Jay Mason earned his 100th victory at Cal Poly Pomona, becoming the winningest coach in program history.
Cal Poly Pomona set the tone early, absorbing Dallas Baptist's initial pressure before generating increasingly dangerous scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Kiarra D'Arcangelo fired a shot off the left post, allowing Marisa Salazar to follow up and finish her seventh goal of the season for a 1-0 lead. The Broncos' midfield and defensive line remained composed and organized throughout the half, preventing Dallas Baptist from producing any shots on target while goalkeeper Jenna Tetrault remained largely untested.
Dallas Baptist attempted to respond in the second half, pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer, but Cal Poly Pomona continued to stay disciplined and opportunistic. In the 56th minute, the Broncos earned a penalty kick, and Vanessa Cruz calmly converted for her sixth penalty-kick goal of the season to extend the lead to 2-0.
Cruz remained one of Cal Poly Pomona's most active attacking threats, finishing with five shots, while the Broncos' defense smothered Dallas Baptist's attempts to find a foothold. Remarkably, Dallas Baptist was held without a single shot on goal for the entire match.
With the Broncos returning to the Final Four for the second year in a row and riding major momentum, Cal Poly Pomona now turns its attention to the national semifinals, where the pursuit of a national championship continues.
Up Next:
The Broncos will now travel to Colorado Springs, Color. for the NCAA Semifinals to face Florida Tech on Thursday, December 11.
Bronco Bits:
- Jay Mason is now 100-50-26 as the head coach of the Broncos. With 100 wins, he has become the winningest coach in program history
- Cal Poly Pomona is now 18-2-3 overall
- Now in its 42nd season, CPP Women's Soccer is 409-304-94 all-time with a 220-147-58 record in CCAA matches
- The Broncos have tied their shutout record with 13 shutouts
- This is the first time in program history the Broncos have gone undefeated on the road with 8
- The Broncos claimed their first ever program victory in the state of Texas
