[
Box score] [
Tournament Central] [
NCAA Bracket]
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Cal Poly Pomona scored four goals in the NCAA semifinals and blanked Franklin Pierce 4-0 to earn a spot in the 2024 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship match (Dec. 13).
Angela Rivas posted the first two goals before the Broncos extended their lead with late scores by
Vanessa Cruz and
Tara Oper to earn the program's first bid to the NCAA title game.
CPP outshot FPU 16-6, including 9-3 in shots on goal. Broncos' goalkeeper
Bella Hara made three saves to record her third shutout in the NCAA tournament. Her counterpart,
Emilie Fox, was forced to make five saves, and it was only the fourth time in 25 matches she allowed more than one goal. She entered the match with only two goals allowed since Oct. 19.
The match was tied until the 22nd minute when Rivas made a run into the box and was brought down by her defender.
Coach Jay Mason turned to her for the penalty kick, and she delivered with a low liner to the left corner of the net.
The junior forward extended the lead to 2-0 on her ninth goal of the season. In the 55th minute, Rivas was alone on the left side of the field near the end line. She beat her defender with a slick move, and before help could arrive she fired a shot with the smallest of angles over the keeper into the top corner of the net for the insurance goal.
Cruz would add her team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 80th minute on an assist from Oper. She has now posted an assist in every Broncos' NCAA game and has 12 on the season, including five in the postseason (four matches). Oper added a goal of her own in the 83rd minute off a cross by
Georgia Rink.
Cal Poly Pomona will face Minnesota State for the 2024 NCAA National Championship on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Noon PST.
ncaa.com/game/6348962