By Kevin Corella, Sept. 20, 2022
In their last preseason game of the season, Cal Poly Pomona conceded defeat to a hard-hitting Azusa Pacific University by a score of 2-1. Coming into the game, the Broncos were on an unbeaten streak in their visit to Colorado.
When discussing the team’s lackluster execution, head coach Jay Mason felt the Broncos beat themselves.
“We weren’t great in our attacking third as far as our finishing,” said Mason. “Sloppy in possession today, unfortunately, which caused us to work harder than we expected to do.”
In the first three minutes of the game, the Broncos were able to get the first shot of the game that sailed high to the right of the Cougars’ goal. Eight minutes into the game, the Broncos were able to get 3 shots on goal through counterattacks.
With their foe holding possession for a majority of the match, coach Mason mentioned the need to capitalize on the counter.
”We knew there was going to be space on one of their sides, we just had to get it there,” said Mason.
That is exactly what the Broncos did in the 22nd minute. They obtained a corner kick to get a shot on goal.
This resulted in a rebound that the defense kicked away, but the Broncos gained repossession and crossed the ball to the back post, ultimately ending in a loss of possession.
Although the Cougars were able to control the ball for the majority of the first half, the Broncos were able to push through with more shots on goal, even though neither team scored in the first half.
Coming out of halftime, the road Cougars drew first blood. APU was the first to hit the back of the net, as they scored in the 66th minute with a goal by defender Mackenzie Coleman with a dazzling header off an APU corner kick.
The sudden goal from the Cougars didn’t bother the Broncos as they kept the pressure on.
Sticking to their counterattacking strategy, they tallied two more shots on target that goalie Maddie Williams was able to save.
Through the first and whole second half, the Broncos were closing in on the APU defense through the right side of the pitch.
After many attempts trying to make the correct play happen, in the 83rd minute forward Jordyn Scott and defender Bridget Carbonneau made a connection of passes to weave through the right back and center back.
In the middle of the six-yard box, Scott found defender Sydney Contrestano, who placed a header into the bottom right of the goal.
“I didn’t know the ball was going to me,” said Contrestano. “I was just at the right place at the right time.”
With six minutes left, the Cougars made a push down the field. APU defender Alexis Fuller made her way into the 18-yard box when she was slide tackled by one of the Broncos, resulting in controversial penalty kick.
A slight miscommunication from the Broncos defense resulted in forward Bethany Tee putting a penalty kick into the back of the net. Tee stepped up and gave the Cougars the lead and eventual win, 2-1.
Defender Madyson Bennett said that the main referee was going to announce a goal kick, but the sideline referee convinced him otherwise, which was “a little frustrating” for Bennett.
The Broncos now fall to 1-4-1 in what coach Mason described as a teaching moment.
“That’s what these nonconference games are for. We have a young group — these types of games are for them to learn more about the game,” said Mason.
CPP took nine shots in the game against APU’s 12 shots. Six out of the nine shots were on target for the Broncos. Midfielder Jessica Llamas led the Broncos in shots as she took three shots and had two shots on goal.
Forward Allyssa Larkin went for two shots with one shot on goal. Carbonneau collected two shots and had one assist. Goalkeeper Audrey Brown tallied three saves in 90 minutes of play.
The Broncos begin California Collegiate Athletic Association conference competition next week when they host Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. to kick off the doubleheader.
Feature Image by Kevin Corella