SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Senior defender Nate Colley’s 12th-minute header and sophomore midfielder Diego Guerra’s 71st-minute penalty marked the difference Saturday afternoon as the Cal Poly men’s soccer program, in front of 9,657 fans – the largest NCAA crowd figure this season by more than 3,000 spectators – delivered a 2-0, Blue-Green rivalry triumph against #13 UC Santa Barbara at Mustang Memorial Field at Spanos Stadium.
Junior goalkeeper Nicky McCune was called upon to make just one first-half save and Cal Poly (3-3-3) limited UC Santa Barbara (6-2-1) to just four shot attempts as the Mustangs produced their first rivalry win against the Gauchos since 2018.
Undefeated and without a goal conceded in three home matches this season, Cal Poly’s Saturday victory was its first against a ranked foe since a 2-1 decision against No. 24 Loyola Marymount (Sept. 26, 2019).
Saturday’s attendance of 9,657 supporters marked the 32nd largest regular season crowd figure in NCAA history.
“We’re really excited for the players,” second-year Cal Poly head coach Oige Kennedy said. “We see how hard they work and how committed they are to the process of competing at their highest level each and every day. So, for them, I’m really pleased.