San Jose State
Mustangs Open Home Schedule Thursday versus San Jose State
9/4/2024 10:33:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Three weeks into the 2024 regular season, the Cal Poly men’s soccer program plays the first two of its seven home matches at Mustang Memorial Field at Spanos Stadium when welcoming San Jose State on Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Gonzaga on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. Seeking its first win of 2024, Cal Poly (0-3-1) opened the season with a scoreless draw at San Francisco (Aug. 22) before sustaining three straight setbacks by four total goals – the last two of which, a 1-0 loss at Oral Roberts (Aug. 29) and 3-2 defeat at Tulsa (Sept. 1), were decided by three opposition penalties. Cal Poly marks the third of four successive Big West opponents for San Jose State (1-1-1), which drew CSU Bakersfield, 1-1 (Aug. 25), and edged Sacramento State, 2-1 (Sept. 1), en route to facing Cal Poly. Gonzaga (4-0-0), meanwhile, looks to extend a season-opening win streak – by a 14-3 goal aggregate – when hosting Utah Tech Thursday ahead of Sunday’s visit to Cal Poly.
CAL POLY VERSUS SAN JOSE STATE: Cal Poly is undefeated in six successive matches against San Jose State dating to 2005, chalking up five wins during the stretch and an 18-6 goal aggregate. The Mustangs prevailed at home in the last matchup between the two sides, 6-1 (Sept. 15, 2023). The all-time series is split, 6-6-3.
CAL POLY VERSUS GONZAGA: The Mustangs are undefeated in four straight versus Gonzaga after dealing the Bulldogs a 4-0 defeat in Spokane last season. Cal Poly, however, has prevailed just once in six all-time home games against Gonzaga, registering that victory with a 3-1 decision on Sept. 15, 2019. Gonzaga leads the all-time series, 6-5-2.
OFFENSE IN FOCUS: Despite remaining winless through the opening four matchups, Cal Poly leads all 10 Big West programs in total shots (52) and corner opportunities (30). In particular, the Mustangs registered 22 shot attempts at Oral Roberts (Aug. 29) and forced Golden Eagles goalkeeper Joao Mesquita into 11 saves with only a 40th-minute penalty separating Cal Poly from a road point. Three days later at Tulsa, Cal Poly twice led before a pair of second-half penalties from the Golden Hurricane kept the Mustangs from a road result.
UP NEXT (SEPT. 13/16): The Mustangs play their final two non-conference road matchups when visiting Utah Valley on Friday, Sept. 13 and first-time foe Utah Tech on Monday, Sept. 16. Cal Poly has faced Utah Valley just twice prior, falling on the road to start the 2019 season before earning a 1-1 home draw last September.
ETC.: Cal Poly is in its 30th Division I season and 23rd as a Big West member … Cal Poly was selected fifth in the Aug. 19 release of the Big West Preseason Coaches poll … Cal Poly’s 1-0 setback at Oral Roberts (Aug. 29) and 3-2 loss at Tulsa (Sept. 1) marked the program’s first all-time games in the state of Oklahoma.
Cal Poly plays its first two home games of 2024 when hosting San Jose State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Gonzaga on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matchups live on ESPN+#RideHighhttps://t.co/Jw77LPnuWY
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) September 4, 2024
