By Samantha Campion, Oct. 1, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer team earned two road non-conference wins to set a program record for the best start in history, 6-0.
The men’s soccer head coach Matt O’Sullivan became the winningest coach in program history after a 3-0 win over Colorado Schools of Mines Sept. 22.
The women’s team traveled to Colorado to compete against Colorado State University, Pueblo and MSU Denver.
Midfielder Auburn Burnett set the tone for the Broncos’ offense by scoring the first goal at 3:24, followed by a second goal by forward Tara Oper off an assist by defender Liberty Ortiz in the first half to lead the Rams 2-1.
Heading into the second half, CPP came out with back-to-back goals by forward Anna Schellpeper and midfielder Lavinia Vaipulu less than a minute apart.
The Rams battled back with a second goal before the Broncos responded with Schellpeper’s second goal of the game behind Ortiz’s second assist and forward Kiarra D’arcangelo’s first goal of her collegiate career to clinch the win 6-2.
Ortiz allowed only 11 shots on frame in two games and registered two assists on the weekend, tying for the most assists in the CCAA.
In the final match of the weekend against the Roadrunners, forward Vanessa Cruz secured her first goal as a Bronco off a penalty kick to lead MSU Denver 1-0 at halftime.
With 10 minutes remaining in the second half, Oper found the net for her second goal of the weekend followed by another goal by Cruz for a 3-0 win.
Cruz said she transferred to CPP from the University of St. Katherine’s to be a part of something big, attributing that to the coaching staff and the program’s success over the past two years.
“Coming from the NAIA to the Division II level, the transition has been a much higher level,” said Cruz. “There’re always people around me that I can rely on as much as they can depend on me. Our saying ‘99’ means you give me your 99%, and I’ll be that one to complete you.”
The Broncos registered 18 shots with nine of those on goal to the Rams’ eight total shots and four on goal.
The two wins on the weekend moved the Broncos to 6-0 this season, setting a record for the best start in program history.
“It’s giving us a chip on our shoulder,” said Oper. “We have something to prove, and we want to keep proving everyone wrong. Just knowing that we are doing something that has never been done before, even last year when we won regular season, this team is continuing to write history.”
The women’s team received a No. 5 ranking in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, marking only the second week the program has been ranked since 2019 after the victory over formally No.-1-ranked Point Loma.
Oper, an All-CCAA First Team honoree last season, earned CCAA Offensive Player of the Week for her game-winning goal against the Sea Lions.
Before transferring to CPP from the University of Idaho after her freshman season, Oper said she lost her confidence and love for the game as the environment failed to support her.
The Riverside native found the supportive environment at CPP gave her room to flourish as a student-athlete. Since the transition, she feels her gameplay has reflected that.
“I scored the game-winning goal against the No. 1 team in the nation,” Oper said. “At that moment, there’s no way no one else should get it but me.”
The No. 10 ranked CPP men’s team welcomed Metropolitan State University, Denver to Kellogg Stadium in the first matchup of the California and Colorado crossover.
The Broncos took advantage of a yellow card on MSU Denver’s defender Robert Sumner after an altercation with defender Marcus Jorgensen, giving CPP a direct kick just outside the penalty area that was redirected at the net.
Midfielder Woody Angell gained possession of the ball heading toward the endline. A last-minute attempt to pass to his teammates resulted in an own goal by a MSU Denver defender at 12:58 to give the Broncos a 1-0 advantage.
Midfielder Aleksandar Somov clinched the 2-0 victory for the Broncos over the Roadrunners with the first goal of his college career behind an assist by defender Jasper Winslow at 58:18.
The Broncos finished with new season-highs of 15 total shots and 10 shots on goal.
CPP faced Colorado Schools of Mines in the second matchup of the weekend. The Broncos scored a season-high three goals in the first half to secure a 3-0 victory.
In the first four minutes, Angell attacked the Miners’ defense, driving past two defenders toward the goal to find success in the upper right frame of the net to put the Broncos ahead 1-0.
Midfielder Max Laguna capitalized on back-to-back plays, scoring the Broncos’ second goal off a penalty kick after a foul by Miners’ defender Gabe Rodriguez and earning an assist off a third goal by defender Mads Frederickson.
Goalkeeper Luke Garciduenas led the defense for CPP, recording his fourth shutout in five games this season and collecting five saves on the weekend to earn California Conference Athletics Association Defensive Player of the Week.
With the win, O’Sullivan moved to 55-16-18 to become the winningest head coach in program history in only his sixth year.
“I think a big part of that is who came before me,” said O’Sullivan. “They helped put that success into place. They laid down that foundation, so we’re hoping to move toward national championships. We have one goal, and it’s to get there and win.”
Feature photo by Will G. MacNeil
