Broncos and Golden Eagles Advance to CCAA Final
The 2017 CCAA Men’s Soccer Championship match is set after an action-packed afternoon at UC San Diego’s Triton Stadium. First, the No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona downed San Francisco State, and then, the fifth-seeded Cal State LA Golden Eagles surged to the finals after a penalty kick shootout and timely save. Read more on the matches >>>
#2 Cal Poly Pomona 3, #6 San Francisco State 0
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post-game quotes (.pdf)
Cal Poly Pomona is back in the championship game for the third time in the last four seasons after taking down an upstart San Francisco State squad in the semifinal round. With the win, the Broncos move to 14-4 on the year, while the Gators cap the season with their first postseason appearance since 1978 and a record of 11-5-2.
"The first goal I thought settled us down a little bit and enabled us to try and get in a rhythm," noted Cal Poly Pomona head coach Adam Reeves. "I don’t think we were necessarily at our best today, but I have an experienced group that’s been through thick and thin together, that’s been through CCAA tournaments and NCAA tournaments together. They’ve been in these situations many, many times. Credit to the seniors for leading the group and ultimately wrapping it up."
Fed by Cyro Oliveria, Cal Poly Pomona’s Luis Najera Jr. struck first in the game on the straighaway boot in the 19th minute of action. Five minutes later, the Gators had the chance to equalize off a corner kick, but Tariq Pulskamp’s header was just high.
In the second half, the Broncos notched two goals, as Jose Garcia fed his left-footed shot into the low corner for the score in the 72nd minute. Then, CCAA Offensive Player of the Year, Sergi Monso, displayed his skills, firing in his 19th goal of the season into the back of the net in the 82nd minute to put the game fully out of reach. The senior from Barcelona, Spain, now holds the Cal Poly Pomona school record for career goals with 36.
No. 5 Cal State LA 1, No. 1 Cal State Dominguez Hills 1, CSULA advances on PKs (4-3)
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post-game quotes (.pdf)
Cal State LA became the lowest seed to advance to a CCAA Championship men’s soccer final after outlasting the No. 1 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills in a 1-1 tie decided by penalty kicks. With the victorious effort the Golden Eagles move to 12-4-3 on the year while the Toros sit at 10-4-3 and await the potential opportunity to play another day in the NCAA field.
The first goal of the game came off the foot of CSULA’s Tim Klefisch whose ball rang off the post and went in for the score in the 59th minute. The Toros knotted the score eight minutes later after capitalizing on a penalty kick opportunity for Gilberto Rocha. Overtime ensued with no change to the score, so the advancing team was determined by a shootout.
Cal State Dominguez Hills was first to kick, and the two teams were true through the opening three tries. Gilberto Rocha missed their fourth try for the Toros and the Golden Eagles followed with the goal, forcing a must-make fifth attempt. Leonardo Nogueira’s kick sailed high as the Golden Eagles took the 4-3 decision in penalty kicks to advance to Sunday’s finals.
"It’s a good feeling," said Cal State LA goalkeeper Steven Barrera on the penalty kick stop. "It’s a tough opponent that we’ve played before – I honestly have no words. It was just pure instinct. Pure waiting on whatever he does and make my move."