POMONA, Calif. - In a thrilling comeback under the Thursday night lights, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to defeat Vanguard University 2 to 1 at Kellogg Stadium. In a match that saw limited offensive output for much of the evening, the Broncos proved their resilience by flipping the script late and securing victory in their first meeting with the Lions since 2002.
Vanguard opened the scoring just before halftime when they found the back of the net in the 43rd minute. The goal capped off a strong first half for the visitors, who limited the Broncos to just one shot in the opening 45 minutes. It was the fewest attempts by Cal Poly Pomona in any half this season. The Broncos went into the break trailing and searching for offensive rhythm.
The second half brought more urgency from Cal Poly Pomona, but the breakthrough didn't come until the final stretch. In the 81st minute, sophomore forward
Clement Badger delivered a composed finish off an assist from
Marvin Gamez, leveling the score at one. The goal sparked a late momentum shift as the Broncos pushed forward with purpose.
Just over two minutes later,
Miguel Gonzalez stepped up from the backline and delivered the game winner in the 83rd minute, scoring his first goal of the season to complete the comeback.
Although they were outshot 11 to 9 on the night, marking their lowest shot total of the season, Cal Poly Pomona made the most of their opportunities by converting two of their four shots on target. Goalkeeper
Jack Chapman played a key role in keeping the Broncos in the match, recording three important saves during pivotal moments.
Up Next:
The Broncos host Cal State San Bernardino for their final non-conference matchup to open the season.
Bronco Bits:
- Matt O'Sullivan is now 68-18-27 as head coach of the Broncos
- The Broncos are 2-0-1 overall against Vanguard University
- The Broncos scored twice in the last 10 minutes of regulation
- Both Cal Poly Pomona goals came within a span of 2 minutes and 8 seconds in the second half
- This was the second time this season CPP was outsot, with Vanguard holding an 11 to 9 advantage
