Cal Poly Visits Portland Friday, Hosts Houston Baptist Monday

Friday, September 2

Portland, OR

7 p.m.

Portland

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Cal Poly Visits Portland Friday, Hosts Houston Baptist Monday

8/31/2022 10:03:00 AM | Men's Soccer

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men's soccer program closes a season-opening, three-match road trip at Portland on Friday, Sept. 2 before beginning its eight-match home stretch inside Alex G. Spanos Stadium against first-time foe Houston Baptist on Monday, Sept. 5. Kickoff both evenings is 7 p.m. for Cal Poly (0-2-0), which seeks its first victory and goal of 2022 following successive season-opening, scoreless setbacks versus Dayton (Aug. 25) and Ohio State (Aug. 28). Portland (0-0-2), which reached the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, began its 2022 regular season with successive draws at home to Central Arkansas (2-2, Aug. 26) and at No. 21 Indiana (3-3, Aug. 30). Members of the Western Athletic Conference, Houston Baptist (0-1-1) drew Furman (1-1, Aug. 25) and fell to No. 22 Campbell (3-1, Aug. 27) at home to open the year. The Huskies visit San Diego Friday evening before heading for Cal Poly.

FOLLOW CAL POLY THIS WEEK: Streaming video and live stats from both Friday's matchup at Portland and Monday's home opener against Houston Baptist will be available via GoPoly.com HERE.

CAL POLY VERSUS PORTLAND: The Pilots have prevailed in eight of the last nine meetings versus Cal Poly with the Mustangs last topping Portland at home on Sept. 25, 2017 (3-1). Portland captured the last matchup with Cal Poly on Sept. 3, 2018 (2-1). The Pilots lead the Division I series, 10-2-1.

CAL POLY VERSUS HOUSTON BAPTIST: Cal Poly has never previously faced Houston Baptist. The Mustangs last met a current Western Athletic Conference program on Sept. 16, 2021, falling at home to then-No. 25 Grand Canyon in overtime, 3-2.

RODRIGUEZ IN FRAME: Despite conceding multiple goals in his first two collegiate outings versus Dayton (Aug. 25) and Ohio State (Aug. 28), junior goalkeeper Victor Rodriguez's 10-save performance against the Buckeyes marked the highest total by a Mustang since Carlos Arce-Hurtado produced 10 saves versus UC Riverside (Oct. 6, 2018). Entering Friday's matchup at Portland, Rodriguez (above) ranks first among NCAA Division I players with 17 total saves and second with 8.5 saves per game.

CAL POLY SELECTED SIXTH IN BIG WEST CONFERENCE POLL: Highlighted by sophomore forward Drew Patterson's selection to the 11-player Big West Preseason Team, Cal Poly was selected for a sixth-place finish in the Big West standings following the Aug. 19 release of the annual coaches poll. Cal Poly earned 44 points and one first-place vote to finish directly behind third-place UC Davis (49), fourth-place UC Riverside (47) and fifth-place Sacramento State (46). UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine, who split last year's regular season title, each collected 71 points to return to the top spot in the preseason poll.

UP NEXT (SEPT. 12): Cal Poly enjoys a seven-day break following Monday's matchup with Houston Baptist before visiting San Francisco on Monday, Sept. 12. Kickoff from Negesco Stadium is 6 p.m. for Cal Poly, which is undefeated in its last four matchups against the Dons. Cal Poly prevailed in last season's home matchup, 3-0.

ETC.: Sophomore defender Conner Leber and freshman midfielder Richie Garcia were both named to the all-tournament team at Ohio State's Wolstein Classic (Aug. 25, 28).