By Jacob Rodriguez, Sept. 3, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s and women’s soccer teams are gearing up for the 2024 season, hoping to start their seasons strong and begin the quest to win a championship.
The men’s soccer team will kick off their regular season against Biola University, while the women’s soccer team will play at home against Vanguard University. Both games will take place Thursday, Sept. 5.
In the 2023 season, both CPP teams found success and finished strong in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings.
The men finished second with a 14-2-5 record and ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches National poll. Both teams reached the finals of the CCAA but fell short against eventual CCAA champions Cal State LA. The men’s team advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament. The Broncos reached the third round of the NCAA tournament before falling short to Cal State LA.
“We had a really good season,” said head coach Matt O’Sullivan. “We won a lot of games, only lost twice, and in those two loses, we lost on penalties on one of the games, but in those two losses, had double the shots than the opposition. Even in those losses, we were dominant; it was the story last season.”
Though the dominance was there, O’Sullivan mentioned how the team sometimes lost focus, and hopes they dominate and have focus when it matters most this season.
Despite graduating seven players, including three All-American seniors, CPP will return with a lot of talent and depth for the upcoming season according to O’Sullivan. Three returning seniors will pose as captains for the Broncos this season: defender Fin Jackson, midfielder Mauro Rafael and defender Jasper Winslow.
The CCAA released the preseason polls, and the Broncos are ranked No. 2, just behind defending CCAA champions Cal State LA. Junior forwards Mads Frederiksen and Sam Lena, along with junior defender Marcus Jorgensen, and senior defender Jasper Winslow, were named to the CCAA watchlist for their first or second team honors last season, including the CCAA All-tournament team.
Frederiksen was awarded CCAA All-Academic honors after his first two seasons as a Bronco and earned second-team All-CCAA honors in his second season.
Frederiksen highlighted the team’s chemistry, emphasizing the championship vision they’ve adopted for this season.
“I think it’s been really good,” said Frederiksen. “We’re bouncing off each other now; it’s good to see everybody working hard. Everybody seems to come in and grind every day and work hard for each other, that’s all we can ask for.”
O’Sullivan thinks his team is in a good position, believing the group is strong. He is excited about the new players entering this season.
Their goal remains the same: They want to win the regular season CCAA conference and make a run in the NCAA tournament.
“Winning games doesn’t mean anything unless we win a trophy in the end,” said Jackson. “That’s all we want.”
With an overall record of 11-5-3, the women’s soccer team finished as CCAA regular season champions for the first time in the program’s history. The Broncos reached the finals of the CCAA tournament before falling short against Cal State San Marcos.
After losing 12 players, the women’s soccer team welcomed 10 new players, seven of which are freshmen and three transfers. Head coach Jay Mason believes the team’s success this season will stem from the group’s experience and chemistry.
“I am very blessed and grateful,” said junior forward Angelina Rivas. “To be a part of a winning program is a step ahead, and it’s something for which I am so grateful.”
Rivas attended the University of Montevallo prior to CPP, where she played 860 minutes and scored four goals in 18 games. She was also named GSC Freshman of the Year and All-GSC Second Team.
“The social connections they make are important when we get to a competitive environment where pressure is high,” said Mason. “We focus every day on the importance of getting to know each other more and having exercises that, whether in our sessions or maybe our leadership group, do some team building away from the field, and I think it’s the most important to have on a team.”
Junior midfielder/forward Haley Hong emphasized how getting to know and practicing with the team for three weeks prior to meeting the coaches created a good atmosphere.
“That was a really good time for us to have fun and get to know each other so that when we start with the coaches, we are ready to roll,” said Hong.
Hong played 234 minutes for the Broncos and earned the CCAA Fall Academic Honor Roll last season.
CPP is ranked No. 1 in the CCAA preseason polls and is favored to win the regular season. Six CPP players were named to the CCAA watchlist: junior defender Liberty Ortiz, senior forward Tara Oper, senior forward Jaclyn Cuevas, and senior midfielder Auburn Burnett, junior midfielder Marisa Salazar and senior goalkeeper Bella Hara. Four of which were named United Soccer Coaches All-West Region honorees: Ortiz, Oper, Cuevas, and Burnett.
The team adopted a motto to remind them of their aim to win the CCAA championship and earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.
“We before me,” said Hong.
Photos courtsey of CPP Athletics