Cal Poly Visits Sacramento State Wednesday, Hosts CSUN Sunday in Big West Openers

Wednesday, September 29

Sacramento, CA

4 P.M.

Sacramento State

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Cal Poly Visits Sacramento State Wednesday, Hosts CSUN Sunday in Big West Openers

9/28/2021 2:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men's soccer program opens its 20th season of Big West Conference action when visiting Sacramento State on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. and hosting CSUN on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. Having completed Big West preparations with a 2-0 loss at rival UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 25), Cal Poly (2-4-1) enters Wednesday's match looking to snap a three-match slide and 189-minute goalless drought, having last scored in a 3-2 overtime loss to No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16). The Mustangs have conceded the second fewest goals (nine) among the Big West's 10 programs while CSUN (20) and Sacramento State (15) lead the conference. Sacramento State (2-6-1) comes into Wednesday's Big West opener having won just once in its last six outings. CSUN (1-8-0), meanwhile, opened its season with eight successive defeats – five of which came by a single goal – before edging Portland at home, 1-0 (Sept. 20). The Matadors host CSU Bakersfield Wednesday before visiting Cal Poly.

FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Live stats will be available for Wednesday's matchup at Sacramento State via GoPoly.com HERE … Zachary Anderson-Yoxsimer provides play-by-play for Sunday's home match versus CSUN for GoPoly.com HERE with live stats and streaming video of the matchup also available HERE.

CAL POLY VERSUS SACRAMENTO STATE: Cal Poly has split its last four visits to Hornet Field, but prevailed, 1-0, in the last trip on Oct. 23, 2019. The Mustangs hold a 15-9-3 Division I series lead and 8-5-1 advantage since Sacramento State joined the Big West ahead of the 2012 season.

CAL POLY VERSUS CSUN: The Mustangs are unbeaten in their last three home matchups against CSUN but, overall, have prevailed just three times in the last 12 meetings dating to the 2011 season. Cal Poly won the last matchup on Oct. 20, 2019 at home, 2-0, but CSUN leads the Division I series, 18-11-7.

ARCE-HURTADO SHINES IN GOAL: Having conceded just eight goals from open play through seven matches, junior goalkeeper Carlos Arce-Hurtado ranks fifth 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). Through 24 collegiate appearances, Arce-Hurtado ranks fourth in program history with a 1.21 career goals against average.

FRESHMEN IN THE FOLD: Fueling Cal Poly's offensive start are three freshmen that have combined to score six of the program's eight goals this season. With goals in two of Cal Poly's last four matches and the game-winner in a 2-1 win at Saint Mary's (Aug. 30), defender Jacob Glass ranks sixth among Big West players in scoring. Including Cal Poly's other game-winning strike against San Francisco (Sept. 6), forward Conner Leber ranks second in the lineup with two goals. Leber also sits ninth in the Big West with a pair of assists. Additionally, forward Max Kleinhammes notched the leveler in Cal Poly's 1-1 home draw with San Diego State (Sept. 3).

SET TO BOYAL: The Big West's leader and ranked 33rd among NCAA Division I players with four assists, senior midfielder Neil Boyal – a 2020 transfer from Louisville – 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) and 3-2 overtime loss to No. 25 Grand Canyon (Sept. 16). Boyal also scored his first Cal Poly goal against Grand Canyon. One of four Mustangs to start all seven games, Boyal ranks third among Cal Poly's outfield players with 90.9 minutes played per outing.

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, now No. 14) on Sept. 3.

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.