Cal State Fullerton
Cal Poly Hosts Cal State Fullerton Wednesday to Begin Home Stretch
10/7/2025 2:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men’s soccer program returns home to Mustang Memorial Field to play three of its next four matches, starting Wednesday, Oct. 8 against Cal State Fullerton and continuing Saturday, Oct. 11 versus UC San Diego. Both matches kick off at 7 p.m. for Cal Poly (4-3-4, 1-0-1), which enters Wednesday’s matchup unbeaten in seven successive outings and having outscored its opposition, 15-4, since Sept. 11. The conference’s top-scoring side with 19 goals, Cal Poly opens the week third in the Big West table on four points – trailing only joint leaders Cal State Bakersfield (2-7-1, 2-0-0) and UC Santa Barbara (4-4-3, 2-0-0) by two. Cal State Fullerton (4-4-4, 1-1-0), having scored 18 goals this year while conceding a conference high 24, most recently edged Sacramento State, 2-1 (Oct. 4), to earn its first Big West points of the fall. UC San Diego (0-6-4, 0-0-2), having started its Big West campaign with 1-1 draws at UC Irvine (Oct. 1) and versus UC Davis (Oct. 4), has scored just three times while allowing 16.
CAL POLY VERSUS CAL STATE FULLERTON: The Mustangs have prevailed in three of their last four meetings with Cal State Fullerton, including a 1-0 road victory last fall fueled by senior forward Oren Stuppel’s 53rd-minute winner. Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series, 21-17-1.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC SAN DIEGO: Cal Poly’s lone Big West defeat last fall occurred with a 1-0 setback at UC San Diego. The Mustangs delivered a 3-1 home win in 2023 and the all-time series stands even at 2-2-0.
HOME SWEET HOME: Cal Poly extended its program record unbeaten home run at Mustang Memorial Field to 13 successive matches with a 2-1 home victory against UC Davis (Oct. 1). During the streak, Cal Poly has conceded just six times and recorded eight shutouts since their last setback at Mustang Memorial Field – a 1-0 decision to rival UC Santa Barbara on Oct. 15, 2023.
Cal Poly back at Mustang Memorial Field for three of its next four matches! The home stretch begins Wednesday versus Cal State Fullerton and continues Saturday against UC San Diego.#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/VsNNmBwJdE
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) October 6, 2025
ALL-AROUND OFFENSE: After scoring 19 times in 19 matches last fall, Cal Poly has found the back of the opposition net a Big West best 19 times already. Eleven different Mustangs have scored through the initial 11 games with senior midfielder Bakuena Ramakatsa, junior forward Jack Civitts, sophomore forward Finn Linas and freshman defender Tanner Casey producing their first goals as Mustangs. With Civitts and freshman defender Michael Vick co-leading the Big West on three assists, eight separate Mustangs have registered at least one assist this year.
DEFENSE IN FOCUS: After allowing six goals in its opening four matches, Cal Poly has conceded just four times in the last seven games. Four of the program’s five shutouts this fall have occurred since a home draw against No. 20 San Francisco (Sept. 11). Two of the 10 total goals allowed have been penalties.
MAHONEY IN THE SCORING LEAD: Enjoying his first two-goal game as a Mustang during Cal Poly’s 8-0 home victory against Utah Tech (Sept. 18), sophomore forward Quinn Mahoney ranks second in the Big West scoring race after already matching his four-goal haul from last fall. Having also scored at Denver (Sept. 8) and versus Saint Mary’s (Sept. 14), Mahoney – the reigning Big West Freshman of the Year honoree – leads the conference on 10 points and Cal Poly with 17 shot attempts.
SEAN MCGOAL: Missing the entirety of the 2024 season through injury, junior forward Sean McTague has returned this year with goals to fuel wins against Utah Tech (Sept. 18), at San Diego State (Sept. 21) and the 86th-minute, game-winner versus UC Davis (Oct. 1). A 2022 Big West All-Freshman Team selection, McTague ranks fifth among conference goalscorers.
MCCUNE IN FRAME: Without just two goals allowed in his previous 465 minutes and only eight conceded from open play in 978 minutes this season, senior Nicky McCune – the Sept. 9 Big West Defensive Player of the Week honoree – ranks first among Big West goalkeepers in total minutes, second with four solo shutouts and third with a 0.92 goals against average and .758 save percentage. McCune has twice recorded a season best five saves at California Baptist (Aug. 30) and Air Force (Sept. 5). A starter in 31 of 34 collegiate outings, McCune ranks second in program history with a 0.92 career goals against average, fourth with 12 career shutouts and fourth with a .771 save percentage.
THE DEFENSE DOESN’T REST: Helping Cal Poly achieve five shutouts at one end of the pitch, freshman defender Tanner Casey – who made his collegiate debut at Air Force (Sept. 5) with a goal – ranks second in the Mustang lineup and fifth among Big West players with three goals. The Set. 9 Big West Freshman of the Week selection, Casey also owns goals against Saint Mary’s (Sept. 14) and Utah Tech (Sept. 18).
MCCUNE, OWENS NAMED TO HERMANN TROPHY WATCH LIST: For the first time in Cal Poly history, multiple Mustangs were named to a Hermann Trophy Watch List as senior goalkeeper Nicky McCune and junior defender Parker Owens earned Aug. 21 candidacy for collegiate national player of the year recognition. Among the 29 standouts named, Cal Poly joined Cornell as the only programs – among more than 200 Division I squads – with two candidates. A total of 15 players will be named 2025 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on Dec. 9 at the conclusion of NCAA Division I All-America voting. From that list, three players will be voted as finalists with the 2025 recipient announced Jan. 9, 2026, at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.
ETC.: Cal Poly’s 8-0 home victory against Utah Tech (Sept. 18) established new Division I program records for total goals, margin of victory and individual assists (seven) … junior forward Jack Civitts was named Sept. 22 Big West Offensive Player of the Week after scoring against Utah Tech and producing Cal Poly’s first three-assist game in 17 seasons.
