By Benjamin Grover, October 7, 2025
The nationally ranked No. 11, Cal Poly Pomona men’s soccer team beat Vanguard University 2-1 on Sept. 25 in a two-minute comeback.
The Broncos were looking to return to the win column after tying 2-2 with Colorado School of Mines Sept. 21.
With the game tied 1-1 against Vanguard with seven minutes left, the Broncos were looking for a winning goal after CCP striker Clement Badger had equalized for the Broncos just two minutes prior.
The man that stepped up: defender Miguel Gonzalez. Gonzalez scored a world-class free kick in the 83rd minute scoring, putting CPP in the lead.
“That was the greatest goal I’ve ever seen,” said CPP striker Jakob Singh. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Badger’s goal for the Broncos, which kicked off the comeback, came just a few minutes after Badger missed a chance to originally tie the game.
“I mean I’m a striker, and everybody misses a chance,” Badger said. “You’re not supposed to dwell on the past; you’re supposed to go get the next one.”
The goal from Badger came off the back of a team-wide build up play, including a vital passing play from Badger and Singh.
“When you’re behind in a game, you have nothing else on your mind but scoring,” Singh said. “Me and Badger knew we were the two that could get it done.”
The goal was also capped off by an assist from CCAA offensive player of the week Marvin Gamez.
Just one minute after the goal from Badger, the Broncos pushed down the field and won a freekick right outside the left side of the Vanguard box.
Gonzalez stepped up and scored a left-footed curling free kick into the top right corner.
“I was planning to cross it at first, and then I saw the guy off the wall move slightly a little bit, and so I just said I’ll take my chance, and it went in,” Gonzalez said.
The Broncos didn’t pose a threat in the first half, only serving the ball into Vangard’s box a handful of times through the wings. A goal by Vanguard midfielder Adan Alvarado in the 44th capped off a lackluster half for the Broncos.
The bench turned the game in favor of CPP in the second half. This reflected mostly in the Bronco’s attack, as CPP recorded eight shots in the second compared to their single in the first.
“I feel like for the second half, the guys on the bench were giving us a lot of support and energy showing us exactly what we needed to do on the field,” Badger said.
Both Badger and Gonzalez came into the game as substitutes.
This is the fourth win in the last five games for the Broncos whose record now sits at 5-1-3 after a win over nationally ranked No. 7 Cal State San Bernardino and a tie with Cal State Monterey Bay in the CCAA opener.
The Broncos now eye a return home as they’re set to take on 2-3-2 Chico State at home Oct. 10.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
