Cal Poly Men’s Soccer – Fansmanship http://www.fansmanship.com For the fans by the fans Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:58:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.28 For the fans by the fans Cal Poly Men’s Soccer – Fansmanship fansmanship.com For the fans by the fans Cal Poly Men’s Soccer – Fansmanship http://www.fansmanship.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/Favicon1400x1400-1.jpg http://www.fansmanship.com San Luis Obispo, CA Weekly-ish Enriquez to Leave Cal Poly Men’s Soccer for pro opportunity http://www.fansmanship.com/enriquez-to-leave-cal-poly-mens-soccer-for-pro-opportunity/ http://www.fansmanship.com/enriquez-to-leave-cal-poly-mens-soccer-for-pro-opportunity/#respond Tue, 09 Jan 2018 01:30:37 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=19232 Cal Poly sophomore midfielder Christian Enriquez met with his coaches and team today to officially announce his intention to leave the team and school to pursue a professional opportunity.  Over the weekend, Enriquez posted the following to his Instagram account, thanking teammates and coaches. He has an opportunity it seems, and he’s taking it.    […]]]>

Cal Poly sophomore midfielder Christian Enriquez met with his coaches and team today to officially announce his intention to leave the team and school to pursue a professional opportunity. 

Over the weekend, Enriquez posted the following to his Instagram account, thanking teammates and coaches. He has an opportunity it seems, and he’s taking it. 

That opportunity, Enriquez confirmed with Fansmanship.com, is a USL contract in Portland. The Timbers and T2 (what they call their USL team) are familiar with players from Cal Poly. Goalkeeper Wade Hamilton played there last season and is listed on their roster

“I’m leaving because it’s a solid opportunity for me to leave school for and it’s something I’ve been chasing since I was three,” said Enriquez. “Coach Sampson agreed it was the right time for me to leave as well.”

Christian Enriquez scores his first collegiate goal against UCSB in 2016. By Owen Main

As a freshman, Enriquez was the Big West Freshman of the Year, scoring a long goal at home against UCSB and being the centerpiece of Cal Poly’s developing attack under head coach Steve Sampson. During the offseason, Enriquez was invited to train with the U-19 National Team three times. In 2017, he picked up a an early leg injury that limited his time and effectiveness throughout the season. The USL schedule starts toward the end of March, though T2 hasn’t posted a 2018 schedule yet. 

For photos of soccer and more click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause, Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com. 

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The (extremely difficult) path to the Big West Tournament for Cal Poly Men’s Soccer http://www.fansmanship.com/the-extremely-difficult-path-to-the-big-west-tournament-for-cal-poly-mens-soccer/ http://www.fansmanship.com/the-extremely-difficult-path-to-the-big-west-tournament-for-cal-poly-mens-soccer/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:40:50 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=19086 With their fourth straight loss on Wednesday night, Cal Poly men’s soccer continued to sit on three points in conference play. If that wasn’t bad enough, UC Davis beat UCSB, which meant that Sacramento State, UC Davis and UCSB are all sitting at 10 points, seven ahead of Cal Poly with just five matches to […]]]>

With their fourth straight loss on Wednesday night, Cal Poly men’s soccer continued to sit on three points in conference play. If that wasn’t bad enough, UC Davis beat UCSB, which meant that Sacramento State, UC Davis and UCSB are all sitting at 10 points, seven ahead of Cal Poly with just five matches to play. So, what will it take for Cal Poly to make the conference tournament? Let’s examine.

Over the past few years, 14 points has been a virtual lock for the playoffs. But the Big West’s North Division went wild against the South — everyone but Cal Poly — so I would guess that if Cal Poly wants to make it this year, 15 points would be the minimum necessary. 

That means they probably need 12 more points — four victories — over the next 5 games to even have a shot at this thing. 

Two of those games are against UCSB (home and away), two are against UC Davis (home and away), and one is at Sacramento State. 

On Wednesday, Cal Poly continued to push players forward deep into the second half and overtime, even after defender Adam Olsen was shown his second yellow card. The pain of the loss was less in Cal Poly getting zero points. Rather, Sac State’s three points vaulted them to seven ahead of the Mustangs. 

If Cal Poly can get four wins in five matches — I guess I’ve seen crazier things — then they’d probably also have to hope for one of the other teams to go in the tank.

Cal Poly didn’t do themselves any favors in the first four games against the South Division of the Big West, but the South Division didn’t exactly help the Mustangs, taking just five total points against teams that were not Cal Poly in 12 games. 

Cal Poly isn’t mathematically out of it, but if they thought they needed three points on Wednesday night, they know that there aren’t really other options at this stage. On Saturday, they’ll visit Harder Stadium at UCSB and try to fight through fans legally throwing things onto the field to get three points at what is the the toughest environment to play in the Big West. 

Photos by Owen Main.To view more photos, click here. If you just want to contribute to the cause Venmo @Owen-Main or paypal owen@fansmanship.com. 

 

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Nick Carroll’s unlikely journey http://www.fansmanship.com/nick-carrolls-unlikely-journey/ http://www.fansmanship.com/nick-carrolls-unlikely-journey/#respond Wed, 13 Sep 2017 02:30:04 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=19008 On Sunday evening, Nick Carroll scored the first goal of his Cal Poly career. It was an 81st minute goal that gave the Cal Poly men’s soccer program a huge boost, their first win of the season, and a home victory in front of over 5,000 WOW Week participants — incoming freshmen that the team […]]]>

Nick Carroll got a lot of playing time as a freshman. By Owen Main

On Sunday evening, Nick Carroll scored the first goal of his Cal Poly career. It was an 81st minute goal that gave the Cal Poly men’s soccer program a huge boost, their first win of the season, and a home victory in front of over 5,000 WOW Week participants — incoming freshmen that the team hopes will be the future of Cal Poly soccer fans. 

Carroll was a defender without any goals to his name, so the goal was not a likely one anyway. If you know his story, you know how unlikely it really was. 

Changes at the top

The start to Carroll’s career — the fall of 2014 — was a tumultuous one for Cal Poly men’s soccer. Incumbent coach Paul Holocher left the program days into the start of Fall camp. Carroll, an incoming freshman, found some success under interim coach Phil Ruskin. He started 11 games that season, mostly at left back. For a team that liked to play with attacking wing backs, Carroll’s long runs down the sideline became a staple opposite right back and current professional Kip Colvey. The team’s lack of depth at defender and numerous injuries at the position pressed at least one other freshman into action along the way. The team did what it had to do to stay afloat. A star midfielder played central defender. Just about anyone who wasn’t injured played big minutes.

It wasn’t ideal, but Carroll was getting playing time.

The Mustangs got off to a decent start under Ruskin, but lost four of their final five games in conference and picked up just four points in division play. In December of 2014, Athletic Director Don Oberhelman hired former US Men’s National Team coach Steve Sampson to lead the Cal Poly program. 

Steve Sampson was hired to coach Cal Poly in December of 2014. By Owen Main

Carroll had acquitted himself adequately on the field in 2014, but as the season progressed, things got harder. School work wasn’t a priority.

Neither Carroll or Sampson got into specifics, but both recognized off-field and on-field issues. 

“I made a lot of mistakes,” said Carroll, a Business major with a focus in entrepreneurship. “I put myself in situations I shouldn’t have been in.”

“I let the fact that I was getting playing time [as a freshman] get to my head,” said Carroll. 

As Cal Poly seemed to be weathering the storm, the double whammy of soccer and school was hitting Carroll hard.

“He had some academic issues,” said Sampson. “Like most freshmen, they tend to test the waters on and
off the field. That leads to a lot of life lessons.”

The spring after he was hired, Sampson had seen enough. Carroll had made too many bad decisions, so Sampson made the decision to cut the left back. 

 No soccer

“I told myself that was it for me,” said Carroll, who was no longer a part of the program. He sulked. “My feeling was ‘I hate soccer right now.'”

During what should have been his sophomore season playing the sport he loved, Carroll didn’t play during Fall quarter. But over winter break in 2015, he had an epiphany. At home for the holiday, Carroll sat in his room and couldn’t get the game out of his mind. He confessed to his father how much he missed soccer. They had a long talk. 

Just 19 years old at the time, Carroll realized he really wasn’t ready to give up completely on his soccer dreams. He found out that it wouldn’t be an easy road back.

He contacted Sampson and they talked. He met with Sampson and Athletic Faculty Representative, Dr. Ken Walker. Walker, a former athletic director at Cal Poly, is slated for induction into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame this Fall.

Walker and Sampson gave Carroll some guidelines. They included a 3.0 GPA for the winter quarter. At the end of the quarter, after regular meetings with Walker and Sampson, Carroll earned a 3.4 GPA — his best yet at Cal Poly.

“Nothing slides with Steve,” said Carroll of Sampson. “He doesn’t care about us as soccer players only, he cares about us as human beings. He wants to know everything that’s going on.”

Carroll also met with some of the leaders on the team. It was a long process, but after his successful winter quarter, Carroll had his chance. He would be allowed to rejoin the team for spring ball.

Gaining confidence

It took a bit of time to shake off the rust. Having spring practice was helpful. Still, Carroll didn’t have his old, familiar starting spot back by the time the fall of 2016 rolled around. After not starting or playing much early in the season, Carroll played in a home game against UCLA, where he notched an assist in a 1-0 Cal Poly win — easily their biggest win of 2016. 

“I felt like, ‘I’m back,'” said Carroll of the UCLA game. He would go-on to play in all 17 games in 2016. 

Upper-class leader

Nick Carroll has developed into a reliable left back on Cal Poly’s men’s soccer team. By Owen Main

Nick Carroll is listed as a junior in terms of eligibility, but it’s his fourth year on-campus. He’s been through three coaches and his stint off the team. He’s a student who presents himself as someone who is thankful for the second chance he was given. 

Carroll pointed to a culture turnaround in the soccer program as an important contributing factor to his personal changes as well. 

“There’s been a 180 degree turnaround with culture,” he said of the soccer program. “When I came in, there was a different set of standards and rules.”

He knows Sampson has coached at the highest levels.

“[Sampson] knows what special teams have to sacrifice,” said Carroll. “Everybody now holds everyone accountable to an incredibly high level.”

Sampson reciprocated the respect.

“He’s matured incredibly,” said Sampson. “I know how hard he’s worked to turn his life around on and off the soccer field.” 

“Our soccer program is trying to be exceptional both on and off the field. [Nick] accepted it, took on the challenge, and is reaping the rewards.”

No time like now

On Sunday, Carroll took a perfectly-placed pass from teammate Jose Rivera and blasted it with his dominant left foot through the arms of the keeper and into the back of the net for a late, game-winning goal. It was Carroll’s first as a Mustang

He ran toward the big crowd of WoWies, who cheered for him. He celebrated with his teammates. Few in the stadium know the road he took to get to that moment.

“He’s proud of what I’ve done,” said Carroll of Sampson. “And I am too.”

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Photos: Late goal lifts Mustangs to first win of the season http://www.fansmanship.com/photos-late-goal-lifts-mustangs-to-first-win-of-the-season/ http://www.fansmanship.com/photos-late-goal-lifts-mustangs-to-first-win-of-the-season/#respond Tue, 12 Sep 2017 03:25:14 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18998 Nick Carroll‘s 81st minute goal lifted Cal Poly men’s soccer to their first win of the year in their home opener Sunday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.  Junior Jose Rivera, a transfer from Irvine Valley College, took a ball deep into the box and calmly left it off in perfect position for Carroll. The left […]]]>

Nick Carroll‘s 81st minute goal lifted Cal Poly men’s soccer to their first win of the year in their home opener Sunday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Stadium. 

Junior Jose Rivera, a transfer from Irvine Valley College, took a ball deep into the box and calmly left it off in perfect position for Carroll. The left back measured the pass and blasted it through the Saint Mary’s keepers hands into the net as the WOW week crowd of 5,000 – plus exploded. 

Props to new KSBY weekend sports anchor, Chance Dickman for getting GREAT video of the shot, goal, and aftermath. 

After playing their first four games on the road, three against nationally ranked teams, the Mustangs finally picked-up a result. Saint Mary’s was no slouch either. The Gaels played Big West North Division favorite UCSB to a scoreless draw and beat South Division favorite CSUN 2-1. 

Cal Poly is now (1-4-0) on the season and next plays this Saturday night at San Diego State, before returning to SLO County to play CSU Bakersfield at the Paso Robles Horse Park on Saturday morning, September 23rd. That day should be fun with a soccer game in North County in the morning and a football game in the afternoon. 

Photos by Owen Main. For a gallery of all photos, click here

 

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Mustang Men’s Soccer wins opening exhibition 4-0 http://www.fansmanship.com/mustang-mens-soccer-wins-opening-exhibition-4-0/ http://www.fansmanship.com/mustang-mens-soccer-wins-opening-exhibition-4-0/#respond Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:04:24 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18949 At the Paso Robles Horse Park, the Cal Poly men’s soccer team defeated Fresno Pacific 4-0 Wednesday evening in their final tune-up before kicking off the season next Friday in Indiana.  Three Stars Sophomore midfielder Christian Enriquez started the scoring within the first few minutes. He collected a bouncing ball just outside the box and calmly slotted […]]]>

At the Paso Robles Horse Park, the Cal Poly men’s soccer team defeated Fresno Pacific 4-0 Wednesday evening in their final tune-up before kicking off the season next Friday in Indiana. 

Three Stars

Christian Enriquez is a sophomore, but he’ll be Cal Poly soccer’s field general from the midfield this season. By Owen Main

Sophomore midfielder Christian Enriquez started the scoring within the first few minutes. He collected a bouncing ball just outside the box and calmly slotted it past the Sunbird keeper, who was caught in no man’s land about five yards away.

Enriquez helped Cal Poly double their lead a few minutes later, playing a no-look through ball to junior college transfer forward Sean Goode. Goode did what he’s done every time I’ve seen him — that is score on his chances. 

Senior Kaba Alkebulan subbed into the game late in the first half and made an immediate impact with his speed. Kaba took a ball over the top down the left side, turned in and right footed it into the goal. Just after halftime, Alkebulan doubled up, scoring a pretty similar goal. 

Enriquez and Kaba are a clear one and two. Eddie Melgoza was my number three. Melgoza started in central midfield and led the back line to a clean sheet. Other defenders did rotate in and out, but Melgoza seems to be settling into a central defender role after playing on the left side most of his freshman year. 

Hoosier-bound

Cal Poly starts their season against two top-10 teams at a tournament in South Bend, Indiana at Notre Dame. First, they’ll face #7 Indiana on Friday August 25th, followed by a match the following Sunday vs. the hosts — #10 Notre Dame. Their opening road trip also features games at the Big East’s Georgetown and #6 Maryland. 

Decent results in those four road games should give the Mustangs the benefit of the doubt for an NCAA bid if they’re on the bubble. Playing good teams early is also a great way to prepare for Big West play.

Mustangs tabbed third in the Big West North

Cal Poly was tabbed today to finish third in the Big West North in the conference’s preseason poll released today. Since there are only four teams in the conference’s North Division, being picked third isn’t great. 

If you look at last season’s performance, thinking of Cal Poly as a third place team in the division might be reasonable. The Mustangs have nearly 20 new players on their roster as they try to bounce back from (5-9-3) overall record (3-5-2 in Big West play).

Predictably, UCSB was pegged as the favorite in the North. UC Davis was picked second, followed by Cal Poly and Sacramento State. Cal State Northridge was picked first in the South followed by Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside, and UC Irvine. 

Photos by Owen Main. To view the entire gallery, click here.

 

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Mustang Men’s Soccer Puts Playoff Pressure on Aggies http://www.fansmanship.com/mustang-mens-soccer-puts-playoff-pressure-on-aggies/ http://www.fansmanship.com/mustang-mens-soccer-puts-playoff-pressure-on-aggies/#respond Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:33:05 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18519 Cal Poly men’s soccer is finally peaking. The question is whether it will be too late. After beating Sacramento State 2-1 on Saturday evening at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, the Mustangs’ fate depends on the UCSB – UC Davis game, to be played on Sunday afternoon. With a Gaucho win or tie, the Mustangs advance. […]]]>

Cal Poly men’s soccer is finally peaking. The question is whether it will be too late. After beating Sacramento State 2-1 on Saturday evening at Alex G. Spanos Stadium, the Mustangs’ fate depends on the UCSB – UC Davis game, to be played on Sunday afternoon.

You can't ever blame Kody Wakasa for not being in the middle of things... Photo by Owen Main

You can’t ever blame Kody Wakasa for not being in the middle of things… Photo by Owen Main

With a Gaucho win or tie, the Mustangs advance. If Davis wins, Cal Poly finishes in fourth place in the Big West North Divivision, meaning their season is over.

How did Cal Poly win?

A third minute header by Bjorn Sandberg gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. It didn’t last long. Just over a minute later, Sacramento State’s Bert Corona gave the Hornets an equalizer.

The match remained knotted at one apiece until the 71st minute, when freshman striker Sebastian Herran kicked a left-footed shot that took a slight deflection and beat Sac State keeper James Del Curto. It was Herran’s first career goal for Cal Poly and gave the Mustangs the three points they so desperately needed.

You can watch the two Cal Poly goals here.

Good deal, so what happens next? Are the Mustangs in the playoffs?

Well, in a weird scheduling snafu, it seems that the final games of the season were not scheduled simultaneously. UCSB doesn’t like hosting night games during Halloween weekend. They’ve had issues during this weekend in the past.

So, why didn’t the Big West schedule simultaneous North Division games Saturday afternoon or Sunday afternoon? I didn’t get a super straight answer on that one, but Steve Sampson did address it in his postgame comments.

Also, UC Davis now knows for sure that they have to win in order to make the conference playoffs — an advantage for them to be certain going into their game with the Gauchos.

Did anything else fun happen?

Well, the game did get a little chippy. Late in the first half, following a common foul against Cal Poly, Sac State’s Jessie Gonzalez two-hand shoved Kody Wakasa from behind, sending him to the ground. Wakasa never saw the cheap shot coming. From where I was taking photos — about midfield — the incident seemed like an automatic red card. Gonzalez, who seemed like he knew a red was coming, ran away and was walking toward the bench before referee Alex Del Angel decided to only issue a yellow card.

You can review the incident for yourself here:

In the Sampson video above, he addressed this play as well. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the conference reviewed the play and suspended the player for the first round of the conference tournament. Based on what I saw from where I was standing, it would be an appropriate punishment.

So, what’s next?

Well, the Mustangs have to sit and wait. Anything could happen in a 2:00 game during Halloween weekend in Isla Vista in the rain. If UC Davis doesn’t win, the Mustangs will head to Fullerton for the Big West Tournament first round next weekend. If the Aggies win, the Mustangs’ season is over.

I outlined a road to the tournament a few weeks ago and targeted 13 points as the number they needed. Cal Poly ended up with 11, and that COULD be enough. You can watch the UCSB-UC Davis game here.

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Hopes for the Blue-Green rivalry game tonight http://www.fansmanship.com/hopes-for-the-blue-green-rivalry-game-tonight/ http://www.fansmanship.com/hopes-for-the-blue-green-rivalry-game-tonight/#respond Sat, 15 Oct 2016 15:23:42 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18506 This is going to be a simple post about what I’d like to see happen tonight: What I want to see Rain, and cool photos as a result. I don’t like rain for my gear, but I’m going to be prepared and hopefully will be able to get some awesome photos of a packed Spanos Stadium […]]]>

This is going to be a simple post about what I’d like to see happen tonight:

What I want to see

  • Rain, and cool photos as a result. I don’t like rain for my gear, but I’m going to be prepared and hopefully will be able to get some awesome photos of a packed Spanos Stadium with the rain.
  • Tough, gritty play. The quality of play usually raises significantly in the Blue-Green games. How will the weather will impact the game? I wonder who benefits from a little sloppiness.
  • A rowdy, soaked stadium full of 11,075 sopping Cal Poly students and fans. I wonder how many will stay for the full 90. What if it goes into overtime? Cal Poly students showed they couldn’t brave the heat when they left at halftime of the Montana football game in 95-plus degree weather. Can they handle the wet weather?

What I don’t want to see

  • Injuries on either team related to the wet weather. This is always my biggest worry in a game like this. Here’s hoping neither of these teams are hugely affected by any pulled groins or hamstrings or other injuries related to the wet weather and possibly sloppy surface.
  • Anything being thrown on the field. Seriously people. We are not animals. Don’t throw anything on the field. No tortillas. No water bottles. Nothing. End of story. If you do, you’re an idiot. Here’s something I wrote at the end of last year’s game and it still stands.

A close game. These games are usually close, no matter how the Mustangs are doing.

Tonight should be fun.

In case you want to get amped before the game:

Photos from last year.

Video of the Kody Wakasa game-winner:

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What will it take for Cal Poly men’s soccer to make the Big West playoffs? http://www.fansmanship.com/what-will-it-take-for-cal-poly-mens-soccer-to-make-the-big-west-playoffs/ http://www.fansmanship.com/what-will-it-take-for-cal-poly-mens-soccer-to-make-the-big-west-playoffs/#respond Mon, 10 Oct 2016 18:31:37 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18497 They can’t be worried about playoffs. Right now, Steve Sampson and company are trying to figure out how to win a Big West game. After netting zero point in their first road weekend in conference and getting just one point from two home games last weekend, the Mustangs have now only a tie and a single […]]]>

They can’t be worried about playoffs. Right now, Steve Sampson and company are trying to figure out how to win a Big West game. After netting zero point in their first road weekend in conference and getting just one point from two home games last weekend, the Mustangs have now only a tie and a single point to show for their first two weeks in conference play. This makes their path to a conference playoff birth a really tough one. Their record now stands at 2-7-2 overall and 0-3-1 in Big West Conference play.

Freshman Kenneth Higgins plays with what seems like unlimited energy, but the team hasn't won in 2 weeks since beating UCLA. By Owen Main

Freshman Kenneth Higgins plays with what seems like unlimited energy, but the team hasn’t won in 2 weeks since beating UCLA. By Owen Main

The Good News

There is SOME good news. Maybe. If you turn the standings and schedule to hit the light just so. Wins will still play. With six games to go — home and away series with each of UCSB, Sacramento State, and UC Davis — Cal Poly can make up ground fast with wins. Home games against both UC Davis and UCSB this weekend would be a great place to start.

The Bad News

This Mustangs are sitting on one point, which is five points behind both Sac State and UC Davis — the teams tied for 2nd place in the North currently. To pass either of then would take, probably, some serious help.

What will it take?

Road points are tough in the Big West, so their play this weekend could either give Cal Poly a fighting chance or seal their fate. Thursday night vs. UC Davis is the first of these tough tasks. Win that game, and the UCSB game will loom as a really big opportunity to gain ground.

Last season, 11 points was not enough for Sacramento State to make the playoffs out of the Big West’s North Division, but this year’s a little different. If Sac State and UC Davis each win two of their remaining six games to get to 12 let’s put the target at 13 to make the playoffs. Less than that COULD garner a spot, but 13 will for sure do so.

The answer is that Cal Poly needs wins. Lots of them. With six games left, they’d get 18 points with six straight wins. That’s not likely, but 11 or 12 points will not come easily. The math says that four wins or three wins and 2-3 ties would get them where they need to be.

All this is pretty unlikely, but stranger things have happened — especially in soccer. A little change in mindset or a little change in luck can make a lasting difference. It’s not an easy task. Then again, nothing worthwhile ever was.

Click here for Photos from Cal Poly Men’s Soccer this year.

Click here for Photos from Cal Poly vs. CSUN.

Click here for Photos from Cal Poly vs. UCI.

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Opportunities abound at Cal Poly this weekend http://www.fansmanship.com/opportunities-abound-at-cal-poly-this-weekend/ http://www.fansmanship.com/opportunities-abound-at-cal-poly-this-weekend/#respond Fri, 23 Sep 2016 18:53:00 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18490 In case you haven’t noticed, the students are back. Grocery stores are packed, Target is insane, and don’t even try to go to Costco at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon right now. Last night, the WOWies invaded Farmer’s Market, and this weekend Cal Poly Athletics has a huge chance to make another first impression. Their […]]]>

In case you haven’t noticed, the students are back. Grocery stores are packed, Target is insane, and don’t even try to go to Costco at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon right now. Last night, the WOWies invaded Farmer’s Market, and this weekend Cal Poly Athletics has a huge chance to make another first impression.

Their first impressions have been a mixed bag in the past. Two years ago, most of Alex G. Spanos Stadium filled-up for a WOW week men’s soccer matchup against San Francisco — one that the Mustangs won. Last season, Cal Poly’s football team had a great opportunity. After starting the season with a thrilling win at Montana and playing Arizona State close, they laid a WOW Week-sized first-quarter egg, trailing 21-0 before the Spanos student section could get warmed-up.

cpsched-1This weekend, there are more opportunities to WOW the WOWies. Starting today at 5:00pm, there are four events at Alex G. Spanos Stadium and a volleyball match at Mott Athletics Center too.

Three of the games are against top-15 teams in the country in three different sports.

For attendance, the two games to keep an eye on are Friday night’s men’s soccer matchup with UCLA and the noon football game on Saturday, and the way I see it, this is a huge oppoortunity for both teams.

With the two marquee games happening 16 hours apart against top-10 opponents, one has to wonder — can the freshmen bring THAT much noise at the end of WOW Week? After a late soccer game on their first Friday night in college, will they even be awake by noon?

Which makes the potential for some noon-game weirdness so, so real.

The last early start at Spanos I remember was the Yale game in 2013. If you don’t remember that, I’ll jog your memory — it was the most or second-most disappointing game I’ve witnessed at Spanos in my five or six years covering the team. There was weird mid-day sun. The student section was lethargic. The team was slow-footed. Yale didn’t have any business being in the game, but they punched the Mustangs in the mouth, got a few key turnovers, and beat Cal Poly. The game day crowd, the team, and the student section can all be ready to help keep Cal Poly on-track against Montana. If they do show, it will be an impressive start to the week for everyone involved, including the WOW leaders and RA’s in the dorms.

Adlee Van Winden and the Cal Poly Volleyball team's match against #14 Hawai'i might be the most underrated game of the weekend. By Owen Main

Adlee Van Winden and the Cal Poly Volleyball team’s match against #14 Hawai’i might be the most underrated game of the weekend. By Owen Main

The most underrated game of the weekend might be volleyball’s matchup with #14 Hawai’i. Hawai’i is a perennial Big West and national power, but this is a big year for Cal Poly volleyball. Sam Crosson’s first major recruiting class are all now juniors. The Mustangs’ best players are not freshmen and sophomores for the first time in three years, and this could be an early-season upset if Taylor Nelson and co. can get hot against Hawai’i. If you’re up for hanging around Cal Poly after the football game, volleyball should be a good time against another great opponent.

Which brings us to the bookend games for the weekend: women’s soccer. This year’s team is 4-4-1, having lost some close games and games to Pac-12 opponents already this year. After nine matches, they should be starting to find their identity and groove in preparation for their Big West schedule. Sometimes when a team’s identity is so linked to a single player — all time goal scorer Elise Krieghoff in this case — it can take a team a while to figure out who they are the following year. I’m anxious to see how some of the team leaders like Megan Abutin and underclassmen like Caitlyn Kreutz are playing in the final weekend before Big West play.

Back to the title of this meandering post — opportunities. All four teams who play this weekend have opportunities right in front of them. In a way, it mirrors the opportunities and fresh start new college students have, starting right now. Conference play is right in front of all of these teams and along with it, a ripe opportunity to achieve goals set long ago.

They’re all there. Right in front of them. Which will take them?

If you’re a sports junkie, these are the kinds of weekends you love. There’s a smorgasbord of action to choose from. See ya out there.

 

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Mustangs draw San Diego State in best showing of the season http://www.fansmanship.com/mustangs-draw-san-diego-state-in-best-showing-of-the-season/ http://www.fansmanship.com/mustangs-draw-san-diego-state-in-best-showing-of-the-season/#respond Mon, 19 Sep 2016 23:55:08 +0000 http://www.fansmanship.com/?p=18483 In what was probably their best showing of the young season, Cal Poly’s men’s soccer team drew 11th-ranked San Diego State 0-0 on Saturday night at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on the Cal Poly campus. Cal Poly’s defense was well-organized all game long, only allowing three shots to the visiting Aztecs. Goalkeeper Eric Kam recorded […]]]>

In what was probably their best showing of the young season, Cal Poly’s men’s soccer team drew 11th-ranked San Diego State 0-0 on Saturday night at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on the Cal Poly campus.

Cal Poly’s defense was well-organized all game long, only allowing three shots to the visiting Aztecs. Goalkeeper Eric Kam recorded the first clean sheet of his career.

Despite the cast on his right wrist, Kenneth Higgins has provided a lot of energy and ball control for a Cal Poly team that is still looking to find its identity. By Owen Main

Despite the cast on his right wrist, Kenneth Higgins has provided a lot of energy and ball control for a Cal Poly team that is still looking to find its identity. By Owen Main

Shoot it!

Cal Poly out-shot SDSU 12-3. The Aztecs actually had the most possession, but Cal Poly created opportunities on counter-attacks and set pieces all night. Justin Dhillon played as a lone striker for most of the match while Kenneth Higgins, Kaba Alkebulan, and Adam Olsen provided some support. Especially intriguing is the play of lefties Jack O’Connor and Nick Carroll down the left side of the field. As head coach Steve Sampson put it early-on, the connection between those two will continue to be important. O’Connor’s hustle and ability to get forward and get service to the Mustangs’ tall, athletic forwards looks like a recipe Cal Poly is trying to master.

WOW crowd… kind of

Week of Welcome had not started at Cal Poly at game time, but lots of students were at this match. The attendance was listed at 1223, but I would say they were low by probably a thousand. Most of the new side of Alex G. Spanos Stadium was full for this one.

Another ranked opponent

Cal Poly will host another ranked opponent on Saturday, this time welcoming 7th-ranked UCLA into town. The Bruins have hosted the Mustangs in recent years and it will be interesting to see if Cal Poly can get a result from a ranked team. UCLA will be the fourth match (out of 7) Cal Poly has played against a top-11 opponent and the Mustangs hope that it nets them their first win against a Division I team this season.

If they were looking for inspiration, the WOW week crowd should be out in full force on Friday. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were eight to ten thousand fans on-hand for this one. A few years ago, against San Francisco, the Friday night WOW Week game netted over 6,000 fans — mostly WOWies. With UCLA’s name brand and some good weather, 8,000 could be in the cards.

Kickoff against UCLA is at 8:00 pm.

Photos by Owen Main. To view them all, click here. 

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