By Benjamin Grover, September 15, 2026
The Cal Poly Pomona men’s soccer team grinded out a 2-1 comeback win in the program’s first meeting against Western Oregon University Sept. 2.
Broncos’ defender and captain Liam McFarlane, midfielder and captain Aleksander Somov and midfielder Jacob Ramirez all recorded more than 45 minutes after coming off the bench, the first time any Bronco substitute had done so this season.
All the Broncos substitutes combined for three shots, including an assist from forward Andres Gutierrez, helping the Broncos secure their second win at home this season, improving their record to 2-1-0.
The Wolves played a high-pressure defensive style, confining the Broncos to their own half straight from the kickoff, facing multiple attacks on the wings.
Despite the high pressure, the first chances of the game fell to the feet of defender Victor Casillas in the seventh minute and midfielder Jose Garcia in the eighth minute for the Broncos, both shots sailing over the bar.
The Wolves’ midfielder Ignacio Brandan broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, after a right-sided cross slipped through the hands of Broncos goalkeeper Jack Chapman.
The Wolves continued their high pressure after netting the opener, losing possessions multiple times after tackles from the Wolves’ midfielders. However, the Broncos’ back line stood firm, regaining lost possessions in the back third for the Broncos.
“The first 10 minutes were alright, but we figured it out,” Broncos’ defender Ethan Fisher said. “We started winning more of those battles.”
Broncos’ head coach Matt O’Sullivan decided to make a change to the attack in the 17th minute, subbing Somov, Andres Gutierrez and midfielder Ramirez for his Bronco debut. The subs made an instant impact.
The Broncos started controlling possession in the midfield and were knocking on the Wolves’ door, highlighted by a shot from Broncos’ forward Marvin Gamez that forced Wolves goalkeeper Austin Valdez into a save at his near post in the 24th minute.
The Broncos’ rejuvenated energy led to a corner kick in the 29th minute taken by Andres Gutierrez, which found the head of Fisher to tie the game 1-1.
O’Sullivan expressed pleasure in his team’s ability to change the momentum, a skill his team has been training for.
“We got at it really,” O’Sullivan said. “I felt they were way more intense at the beginning of the game and we were a little off the boil in the first 15 minutes, … but there’s always a switch we can hit.”
Both the Wolves and Broncos grew into the game and applied pressure equally entering the second half. The first big chance of the second half falling to the foot of Somov after cutting inside the penalty area on his left foot. However, Somov lost his footing and the ball skewed wide for a throw-in.
The Broncos eventually breached the Wolves’ defense in the 61st minute after defender Abram Araujo, who O’Sullivan credited to being a spark on the wing for the Broncos, was brought down earning the Broncos a penalty.
Gamez stepped up to slot the ball home for the Broncos, flipping the script to take a 2-1 lead.
The Wolves tried to forge attacks with long balls over the top after conceding the lead and struggled for the following nine minutes after solid ground and aerial duels won by the Broncos’ backline.
In addition to their struggles attacking wise, the Wolves’ aggressive strategy began to turn on them, as the Broncos began to bait the Wolves into fouls when attacking the Broncos’ defensive third.
“They were a physical team, and we knew they were going to come in hard,” Broncos midfielder Daniel Gutierrez said. “At that point, just let them push you to the ground. The referee will call it every time.”
The frustration eventually boiled over as Wolves forward Idin Fakhri received a yellow card for a hard foul on Garcia, the first of six players cautioned by the referee.
The Wolves’ relentless pressure eventually led to a golden opportunity in the 70th minute after scrappy defense from the Broncos and a rifled shot from Wolves’ winger Archie Dhima forced a diving safe from Chapman to preserve the Broncos’ lead.
Benjamin Grover | The Poly Post
Chapman joined the action just three minutes after a counterattack from the Wolves forced another save.
Following a flurry of Wolves counterattacks, the Broncos sprang on the counter as Broncos’ forward Clement Badger made a deep run and was taken down in the penalty area for the Broncos’ second penalty of the match.
Broncos forward Efren Nunez Dominguez did not replicate Gamez, missing his penalty after attempting a panenka and putting the shot over the bar.
The Broncos were put under relentless pressure after the penalty miss, requiring two more saves from Chapman after a longball in the 81st minute and a docile freekick attempt in the 89th.
The Broncos gave up a dangerous free kick for the Wolves outside the penalty area after a foul from Garcia with just 14 seconds left in the match.
Wolves winger Evan Huber took the free kick, missing just shy of the Broncos’ right post, ending the game at 2-1.
The Broncos stand at 2-1-1 after playing a 1-1 draw at Vanguard University Sept. 5. The Broncos now gear up for a Texas road trip set to face St. Edwards Sept. 10 and Midwestern State Sept. 12 before returning to Los Angeles to take on Cal State LA for the California Collegiate Athletic Association conference opener Sept. 18.
“Sometimes early in the season, it’s OK for things to go wrong, provided you can win,” O’Sullivan said. “Tonight we didn’t play our best at the beginning, and we had a couple off moments at the end, but at the end of the day we found a way to win.”
