9-6-5, 5-2-2
No. 2 UC Irvine
10-3-6, 4-0-5
Mustangs Eliminated in Big West Championship Semifinals, 1-0
11/8/2025 10:09:00 PM | Men's Soccer
IRVINE – An 84th-minute goal from UC Irvine forward Gage Lyons marked the difference in Saturday evening's Big West Championship semifinal as the Cal Poly men’s soccer program was eliminated from postseason contention at Anteater Stadium, 1-0.
Two-time Big West Goalkeeper of the Year honoree Nicky McCune finished with three saves in his final collegiate appearance for Cal Poly (9-6-5), which won its final three games of the regular season to finish in a three-way tie for first place atop the final Big West standings with UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara.
The Big West Championship’s No. 3 seed after tiebreaking procedures, Cal Poly ousted sixth-seeded UC San Diego in Wednesday’s opening round, 2-0, to reach Saturday’s semifinal.
“Congrats to UC Irvine and head coach Yossi Raz on the win tonight and their strong season this year,” third-year Cal Poly head coach Oige Kennedy said. “We started the game so well and felt that we created the better chances. We were very much in control of the tie going into the break. Our boys battled in the second half, but I think the toll of three games in eight days started to show a little. But, no excuses. We’re so proud of all our guys for their hard work in the game.”
Despite Saturday’s loss, Cal Poly enjoyed another historic effort this fall. Aside from claiming a second straight Big West regular season title, the 2025 Mustangs produced the program’s highest win total in a decade, won the program’s first Big West Championship match since 2015 and tied the program record with 10 shutouts. Individually, a program record eight Mustangs earned All-Big West honors.
#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/iJUs6khxL3
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) November 9, 2025
“I do want to say thank you to our student-athletes for their commitment this season. They’ve created some fantastic memories for the program and can be so proud of how much they’ve achieved this year,” Kennedy said. “It’s been a great group to work with and once the hurt from the result passes tonight, we’ll be able to reflect on so many positive achievements from a special group of young men.
“Obviously, we also want to say thank you to our seniors. What a special group of young men that have helped build a special brotherhood on our team. They truly have left the jersey in a better place and the legacy they leave only means our program will be set for more future successes. The relationships they’ve built together will go well beyond their time with Cal Poly.”
Cal Poly outshot UC Irvine during Saturday’s first half, 7-3, with freshman midfielder Cole Aman striking the crossbar in the sixth minute before junior forward Sean McTague forced Anteaters goalkeeper Joe O’Shaughnessy into saves in the sixth and 18th.
McCune, meanwhile, kept matters scoreless with saves in the fourth, 50th and 72nd minutes.
Cal Poly junior defender Joaquin Torres saw an 81st-minute strike turned away but, six minutes from full time, UC Irvine won the ball from the Mustangs on the halfway line and a pass was fired up field for Lyons. With McCune drawn out on the attack, Lyons lifted his shot over Cal Poly’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net for the eventual game-winner.
With Saturday win, UC Irvine advanced to face UC Santa Barbara in the Friday, Nov. 14 title match.
6' | Cole Aman off the crossbar for Cal Poly! Scoreless early at UC Irvine in the Big West Championship semifinals.#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/4M27FkEU6y
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) November 9, 2025
Team Stats
Gage Lyons (5)
Assisted By: Misael Gonzalez Lopez , Marcus Lee
through midfield, 11 left wing, chip with keeper out
83:58
