By Cael Cross, October 14, 2025
The Cal Poly Pomona men’s soccer team split even against Cal State Monterey Bay 1-1 on the road Oct. 3 in the CCAA opener, surrendering the lead to a 90th minute goal from the Otters.
The result follows a pattern in recent history for the program, marking the fourth draw in the last five conference openers. CPP has only managed one win in their last ten conference openers, coming in 2022 with a 3-0 win over Azusa Pacific University.
Coming into the match ranked No. 11 in the NCAA Division II men’s soccer rankings, the Broncos shot out with a flying start, scoring in the 9th minute to make it 1-0 via forward Jakob Singh, who met a low-driven cross from forward Sam Lena in the box.
CPP found its stride for the next 10 minutes, pinning the Otters to their own final third with attacking play down the left and in the half-spaces, but couldn’t create any clear-cut chances.
“We played much better from the inside today,” said head coach Matt O’Sullivan. “I think we still have to make some little improvements, but it was definitely better.”
The Otters grew into the game and flipped the tides, playing several one-two passes to quickly find themselves in the Broncos’ half. The Broncos succumbed to the fast-paced play, conceding a penalty in the 36th minute, but kept their lead until the break as goalkeeper Jack Chapman stretched out to his right to deny Monterey Bay’s Daniel Perez.
Chapman, who transferred to CPP from Sonoma State University this past year, talked about the confidence boost from the penalty save.
“It’s one of the better feelings of being a goalkeeper,” Chapman said. “The reactions from the team and everyone kind of getting behind it, it’s a pretty cool thing.”
CPP came out of the half sluggish, with Monterey Bay causing a lot of chaos in the Broncos’ final third.
The Broncos conceded multiple corners and nearly paid for it in the 58th minute, with Chapman making a split-second reaction save to keep Monterey Bay goalless.
The Broncos found their footing and evened up the momentum with a big chance from Singh, which was shakily cleared by Monterey Bay defenders in the 65th minute.
CPP and Monterey Bay traded near-goal opportunities as the Otters hit the post on a strike in the 70th minute before midfielder Daniel Hernandez had his header brushed onto the bar by Monterey Bay goalkeeper Jerry Godfryd in the 84th minute.
The match seemed all but over when a final chance from Monterey Bay saw midfielder Eric Vasquez-Acosta fire home the 90th minute leveler off a wayward volley, ending the match 1-1.
The Broncos were marginally outshot 13-11 by the Otters but had a 6-5 advantage on shots on goal. Chapman ended the match with four saves as well.
CPP moves to 5-1-3 on the season, opening conference play with a 0-0-1 record. The result also snapped a 12-game win streak versus the Otters, but the Broncos remain unbeaten against Monterey Bay since October 2014. CPP also fell five spots in the NCAA Division II rankings to No. 16 as of Oct. 7.
“We got to defend better than what we’re defending right now,” O’Sullivan said, noting the defensive struggles this season. “We’ve only got one clean sheet on the season. We’re nine games in. It’s just not enough clean sheets.”
O’Sullivan also touched on the importance of taking control of matches in conference play going forward.
“We lacked relentlessness,” O’Sullivan said. “We had them on the back foot and kind of let them off the hook a little bit, but if you’re not going to be relentless and a killer in this conference, teams will come back. As we go forward, we can learn that lesson today and we can bury teams in the future.”
CPP heads back home to continue conference play, hosting Chico State Oct. 10 and Stanislaus State Oct. 12 at Kellogg Stadium.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
