By Samantha Campion, Oct. 22, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer player Vanessa Cruz earned California Collegiate Offensive Player of the Week after scoring three goals against Cal State East Bay, and men’s soccer player Max Laguna clinched the game-winning goal in the final two seconds to defeat CSUEB 2-1.
The women’s team endured over CSUEB 3-2 to open the second weekend of CCAA play and remain at the top of the conference standings.
Cruz was a standout on offense for the Broncos, launching the ball from outside the penalty area to score the first goal for either team at 36:38.
CSUEB midfielder Lillian Morris collided with Cruz on the run, resulting in a yellow card against the Pioneers to give the Broncos a free kick at 51:57.
Cruz capitalized on the mistake for her second goal of the game to give CPP a 2-0 advantage in the second half.
“We have been working on free kicks in practice as a team,” said Cruz. “Although I am the one taking them, for my coaches to give me the confidence to do so and be successful in those areas, I thank them for the opportunity.”
Seven minutes later, Cruz struck again with her third and final goal off an assist from defender Giselle Samayoa for a 3-0 lead over the Pioneers.
CSUEB retaliated with two goals late in the second half, but ultimately, the Broncos prevailed through the closely contested matchup, registering 15 shots and six on goal to the Pioneers 13 and seven.
Goalkeeper Bella Hara maintained composure at the net to hold off the Pioneers, totaling five saves on the night.
The Broncos closed out the weekend with a second win over Cal State San Marcos 2-0.
Both teams started off slow on offense. Only a combined five shots were taken in the first half.
Cruz continued her dominant campaign on the weekend, finding the back of the net for her ninth goal of the season in the 58th minute.
A foul called on the Cougars’ Emma Hord gave forward Angelina Rivas her first goal as a Bronco off a penalty kick to secure the 2-0 win over CSUSM.
Hara made one crucial save for CPP on the night, moving her to eight all-time in program history with 13 career shutouts.
Cruz scored four of the team’s five goals on the weekend to earn her first CCAA Offensive Player of the Week award. She accounted for two game-winner goals to total four this season.
She entered a five-way tie for fifth in most game-winning goals scored in a season in CPP program history.
Cruz is the second player in the CCAA to record a hat-trick this season and the first by a Bronco since 2012.
With the two wins, CPP reinforced the best start in program history with a 10-0-1 overall record.
“When we prepare for a game, we don’t ever think about the next one; we stay in the moment,” said Cruz. “We prepare well enough for that. After one game is completed, it’s on to the next. Our focus is always one game at a time.”
The men’s team extended their three-game winning streak with two victories over CSUEB and CSUSM.
In the first matchup, the Pioneers found momentum early in the game behind defender Eugenio Perez-Vera Merino’s goal off a corner kick at 26:07.
The Broncos trailed at halftime for only the second time this season but came out with authority to start the second half, outshooting the Pioneers 15-8.
Midfielder Woody Angell’s shot to the bottom left marked his single-best season and team-leading sixth goal of the season, evening the game at 1-1. Midfielder Max Laguna and forward Jakob Singh earned the assists.
Angell set a game and career-high seven shots, pacing the CCAA with 38 on the season.
In the final minute, Angell’s shot was denied by Pioneers goalkeeper Adan Corona and directed out of bounds by Pioneer defenders.
A throw in from the left-side was directed off defenders toward Laguna at the edge of the 18-yard box. With two seconds to spare, Laguna took a left-footed attack that found its way into the right side of the net to complete the Broncos 2-1 comeback win.
Knowing he may never play soccer again changed Laguna’s preparation going into his senior season.
“I have been focusing on finishing in practice so that when the opportunity arises, I am ready,” said Laguna. “I hope I can continue to contribute to this team throughout the season and make plays like that more often.”
CPP entered a two-way tie with rival Cal State Los Angeles in the CCAA standings amidst the defeat over the CSUSM Cougars.
Laguna earned the Broncos’ first goal-off-penalty kick from a foul called on Cougar’s defender Logan Garcia, his third-straight goal in the last three games and second game-winner of the weekend.
Laguna now leads CPP in total points with a career-high 14 after assisting midfielder Daniel Gutierrez’s first collegiate goal at 76:56.
Midfielder Marc Birkelund closed out the match 3-0, with his first goal as a Bronco off assists from forward Sam Lena and midfielder Ethan Benham.
Goalkeeper Luke Garciduenas registered a career-high six saves, collecting three in the span of 61 seconds, and set a single-season, career-best shutout with six.
The Broncos will face Cal State LA Oct. 17 on the road with first place conference standings on the line. The last time the two teams met, the Golden Eagles knocked off the Broncos in the third round of the National Collegiate Athletics Association tournament.
“We treat it like every other game, always focusing on what’s in front of us in the moment,” said Laguna. “There is some history with Cal State LA, but we’re just going to stick to our game plan and go in with the same mindset.”
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
