By Daniel Duque, August 29, 2023
A new challenge lies ahead for Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s soccer team as the beginning of the 2023 season approaches. In his fifth year in charge of the Broncos, head coach Matthew James O’Sullivan is hoping to lead CPP to success in the NCAA national tournament.
O’Sullivan joined the team in 2018. Under his leadership during the 2019 season, the Broncos won their third CCAA championship and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament for the fifth consecutive time.
In 2022, the Broncos’ season ended with an 11-3-6 record following their loss to Colorado State University Pueblo during the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. O’Sullivan reflected on last season’s performance, a season highlighted by an impressive undefeated run.
“Going into that final game, we’d only lost one game all season,” said O’Sullivan. “I really liked that group. We just got a little bit undone with injuries, and I just thought the desire and the intent in that last game was lacking a little bit.”
O’Sullivan referred to the team’s chemistry as one aspect he thinks is extremely important to the team’s success.
“I think the tactical part and the technique of the players is very good,” O’Sullivan said. “At the end, what we are lacking a little bit is in the relationship building. That is going to be a huge part of it.”
Bronco goalkeeper C.J. Walker expressed his optimism for the upcoming season and stated that the team is well prepared for the tournament. Walker started all 17 games for the Broncos last season and recorded nine clean sheets.
“We always expect to win,” said Walker. “I think this season is going to be one of the best in recent years as long as we stay disciplined and focused. This group has been around for a while and we have seen a lot; we expect to do really well.”
Walker added that the team thoroughly prepared during the spring for the upcoming tournament and that they expect to win trophies. He reflected on the positive team morale heading into the 2023 season.
“This team culturally is very together,” said Walker. “We are all really good brothers, and we are just super excited to get to that first official game and start the season off right.”
Regarding the last season, Walker recalled the number of points conceded, especially in away games, and said that the Broncos will need to be a more dominant team in order to avoid losing important points.
The roster’s players spent significant time playing other teams throughout the offseason to avoid slowing down and to stay prepared for the next tournament. The 2023 season will count with 21 returning players and eight new ones, four of which are freshmen.
“It is not so much on what you are doing with the coaches, it is what you are doing on your own,” said O’Sullivan. “We had a lot of players play in summer leagues and stuff like that, a lot of people went back to their home countries to play, so overall the players are coming in really good shape.”
The Broncos will begin the fight for the title Thursday, Aug. 31 against Biola University in Kellogg Stadium.
CPP forward Paul Roger Henschke referred to Biola as “definitely a good rival,” specifically mentioning the latter’s appearance in the NCAA national tournament for two years in a row and the fact that Biola defeated the Broncos during the 2021 season.
“I think the key would be to turn them and to defend as hard as we can, but we have to play behind the lines and to make sure that we get no oppositions, that we score goals and to not concede,” Henschke continued. “If we do that, I am pretty sure we are going to win.”
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics