POMONA, Calif. - The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos opened their 2025 season with a statement performance, rallying from a first-half deficit to defeat Azusa Pacific 3-1. The Broncos showed grit, resilience, and offensive firepower in the second half to claim their first victory of the year.
Early in the match, both teams struggled to find rhythm, with fouls disrupting play and chances falling just off target. Azusa Pacific struck first in the 40th minute, taking a 1-0 lead into the halftime break. Cal Poly Pomona, however, returned from halftime with a renewed sense of urgency and determination. "It was a battle from start to finish, and being down at half really called on us to trust each other and bring the energy to come back," said senior midfielder Marisa Salazar. "The shift in our energy really made a huge difference in the second half, and we were able to see it in the result!"
The equalizer came in the 59th minute when Salazar capitalized on a pass from Angelina Rivas to tie the match 1-1. The Broncos kept pressing, and in the 82nd minute, Anna Schellpeper found the back of the net with the assist coming from Salazar, completing the turnaround and giving CPP a 2-1 lead. Just minutes later, Vanessa Cruz buried a penalty kick to extend the lead to 3-1 and seal the win. "It just shows the grit and determination of this brand-new team," Cruz said. "We continued where we left off, and I couldn't be prouder of setting this season off the right way. We take one game at a time, and now we prepare for the next matchup."
The Broncos outshot the Cougars 11 to 6 and dominated possession in the second half, turning early adversity into a confident and convincing season-opening victory.
Up Next:
The Broncos will host Fresno Pacific on Saturday, September 6th at 4:30. A senior recognition ceremony will take place before the match begins.
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