Wednesday, October 6
San Luis Obispo, CA
7 P.M.
vs
UC San Diego
Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Cal Poly Begins Home Stretch Wednesday versus UC San Diego
10/5/2021 1:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men's soccer program plays three of its next four Big West Conference matches at home inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 6 versus UC San Diego at 7 p.m. Cal Poly closes the week at UC Irvine on Saturday, Oct. 9 (7 p.m.) before hosting Cal State Fullerton (Wednesday, Oct. 13) and Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara (Saturday, Oct. 16). One of only three unbeaten programs after the opening week of Big West play, Cal Poly (3-4-2, 1-0-1) shares second place in the standings alongside Sacramento State (3-6-2, 1-0-1) on four points with both programs sitting behind conference leader UC Santa Barbara (6-3-2, 2-0-0). Cal Poly and UC San Diego feature the Big West's two stingiest defenses with the Mustangs having allowed only 10 goals in 10 matches and the Tritons a conference leading eight in nine matches. Sharing fourth place in the Big West standings with four other teams (including UC Irvine), UC San Diego (4-5-0, 1-1-0) enters Wednesday's match having won three of its last four games. Conversely, UC Irvine (3-7-1, 1-1-0) – which visits UC Santa Barbara on Wednesday – has prevailed just once in its last four outings.
FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer provides play-by-play for Wednesday's home match versus UC San Diego for GoPoly.com HERE with live stats and streaming video of the matchup also available HERE … video and live stats will be available for Saturday's matchup at UC Irvine via GoPoly.com HERE.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC SAN DIEGO: Wednesday's matchup marks Cal Poly's first meeting with UC San Diego at the Division I level. UCSD joined the Big West in summer 2020, but didn't face Cal Poly during its first member year after last season was cancelled.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC IRVINE: The Anteaters have prevailed in the last four meetings with the Mustangs. Cal Poly's last series win was a 1-0 victory against UC Irvine to open the 2015 Big West Tournament. UC Irvine leads the Division I series, 18-10-8.
SET TO BOYAL: Four of senior Neil Boyal's five assists have helped fuel Cal Poly victories with the midfielder still leading the Big West and now ranked 17th among NCAA Division I players. A 2020 transfer from Louisville, Boyal set up both of Cal Poly's goals (11 minutes apart) during the program's 2-1, come-from-behind victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30) before providing assists in Cal Poly's 3-0 win against San Francisco (Sept. 6), 3-2 overtime loss to No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16) and 1-0 home victory versus CSUN (Oct. 3). Boyal also scored his first Cal Poly goal against Grand Canyon as the Mustangs scored twice in the final three minutes to force overtime. One of four Mustangs to start all nine games, Boyal ranks second among Cal Poly's outfield players with 92.9 minutes played per outing.
ARCE-HURTADO SHINES IN GOAL: Having conceded just nine goals from open play through nine matches, junior goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado ranks third in the Big West with a 1.23 goals against average. Having produced a season high five saves in Cal Poly's season opener at Santa Clara (Aug. 27), Arce-Hurtado recorded his first shutout of the year in Cal Poly's 3-0 home win against San Francisco (Sept. 6) and his second in a 1-0 victory versus CSUN (Oct. 3). Through 26 collegiate appearances, Arce-Hurtado – a two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week selection this season – ranks fourth in program history with a 1.14 career goals against average.
FIRST IN GLASS: Now with two game-winning goals following his 68th-minute strike in a 1-0 home victory against CSUN (Oct. 3), freshman defender Jacob Glass ranks sixth among Big West players with four goals while also leading Cal Poly in shots (12) and shots on goal (six). After his 76th-minute goal marked the winning margin in a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30), Glass scored in a 3-0 home win against San Francisco (Sept. 3) before scoring in the 87th minute to help Cal Poly force overtime versus No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16). A starter in all nine matches, Glass has helped the Mustangs to two shutouts this year. Alongside junior goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado, Glass is one of two Mustangs to play all 858 minutes this year and averages 95.3 minutes per game.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: Four of Cal Poly's opening seven matchups came against programs either ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll (at time of match). Among Cal Poly's early results, the Mustangs produced a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (receiving votes) on Aug. 30 and drew San Diego State (receiving votes) on Sept. 3. Among 208 NCAA Division I programs, Cal Poly ranks 37th in toughest schedule.
ETC.: Cal Poly's 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30) marked Cal Poly head coach Steve Sampson's 100th collegiate victory. Sampson, who finished 64-19-19 with Santa Clara (1986-90), owns 36 victories with the Mustangs and a now 100-62-31 career collegiate mark.
FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer provides play-by-play for Wednesday's home match versus UC San Diego for GoPoly.com HERE with live stats and streaming video of the matchup also available HERE … video and live stats will be available for Saturday's matchup at UC Irvine via GoPoly.com HERE.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC SAN DIEGO: Wednesday's matchup marks Cal Poly's first meeting with UC San Diego at the Division I level. UCSD joined the Big West in summer 2020, but didn't face Cal Poly during its first member year after last season was cancelled.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC IRVINE: The Anteaters have prevailed in the last four meetings with the Mustangs. Cal Poly's last series win was a 1-0 victory against UC Irvine to open the 2015 Big West Tournament. UC Irvine leads the Division I series, 18-10-8.
SET TO BOYAL: Four of senior Neil Boyal's five assists have helped fuel Cal Poly victories with the midfielder still leading the Big West and now ranked 17th among NCAA Division I players. A 2020 transfer from Louisville, Boyal set up both of Cal Poly's goals (11 minutes apart) during the program's 2-1, come-from-behind victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30) before providing assists in Cal Poly's 3-0 win against San Francisco (Sept. 6), 3-2 overtime loss to No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16) and 1-0 home victory versus CSUN (Oct. 3). Boyal also scored his first Cal Poly goal against Grand Canyon as the Mustangs scored twice in the final three minutes to force overtime. One of four Mustangs to start all nine games, Boyal ranks second among Cal Poly's outfield players with 92.9 minutes played per outing.
ARCE-HURTADO SHINES IN GOAL: Having conceded just nine goals from open play through nine matches, junior goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado ranks third in the Big West with a 1.23 goals against average. Having produced a season high five saves in Cal Poly's season opener at Santa Clara (Aug. 27), Arce-Hurtado recorded his first shutout of the year in Cal Poly's 3-0 home win against San Francisco (Sept. 6) and his second in a 1-0 victory versus CSUN (Oct. 3). Through 26 collegiate appearances, Arce-Hurtado – a two-time Big West Defensive Player of the Week selection this season – ranks fourth in program history with a 1.14 career goals against average.
FIRST IN GLASS: Now with two game-winning goals following his 68th-minute strike in a 1-0 home victory against CSUN (Oct. 3), freshman defender Jacob Glass ranks sixth among Big West players with four goals while also leading Cal Poly in shots (12) and shots on goal (six). After his 76th-minute goal marked the winning margin in a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30), Glass scored in a 3-0 home win against San Francisco (Sept. 3) before scoring in the 87th minute to help Cal Poly force overtime versus No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16). A starter in all nine matches, Glass has helped the Mustangs to two shutouts this year. Alongside junior goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado, Glass is one of two Mustangs to play all 858 minutes this year and averages 95.3 minutes per game.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: Four of Cal Poly's opening seven matchups came against programs either ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll (at time of match). Among Cal Poly's early results, the Mustangs produced a 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (receiving votes) on Aug. 30 and drew San Diego State (receiving votes) on Sept. 3. Among 208 NCAA Division I programs, Cal Poly ranks 37th in toughest schedule.
ETC.: Cal Poly's 2-1 victory at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30) marked Cal Poly head coach Steve Sampson's 100th collegiate victory. Sampson, who finished 64-19-19 with Santa Clara (1986-90), owns 36 victories with the Mustangs and a now 100-62-31 career collegiate mark.
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