California Baptist
Mustangs Visit California Baptist Saturday on ESPN+
8/28/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – Returning to action following a early-season, nine-day break, the Cal Poly men’s soccer program visits California Baptist for the first time at the Division I level on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff on ESPN+ is 7:30 p.m. for Cal Poly (0-1-0), which began the 2025 season with a 2-0 setback at San Jose State (Aug. 23). Conceding multiple goals for the first time since Sept. 1, 2024 – a streak of 15 outings – Cal Poly visits a California Baptist (2-0-0) squad which began its year by coming from behind to defeat both American (3-2; Aug. 21) and fellow Big West opponent Cal State Bakersfield (2-1; Aug. 25). Saturday’s matchup serves as the second leg of a four-game, season-opening road trip for Cal Poly.
CAL POLY VERSUS CALIFORNIA BAPTIST: Cal Poly has never previously faced California Baptist at the Division I level.
MUSTANGS RETURN TO NATIONAL TELEVISION: Hosting its first nationally televised match in more than a decade at Mustang Memorial Field, Cal Poly’s Wednesday, Oct. 1 Big West opener against UC Davis will be broadcast on ESPNU. The game marks a re-match between the two sides from last fall’s Big West Championship semifinal that finished 1-1. UC Davis, however, eliminated Cal Poly on penalties before defeating UC Santa Barbara in the final.
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.
LOOKING AHEAD: Cal Poly completes its season-opening, four-game road trip when visiting Air Force on Friday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. PT and No. 21 Denver – a 2025 College Cup semifinalist – Monday, Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. Cal Poly then returns home to open its eight-match stretch at Mustang Memorial Field on Thursday, Sept. 11 versus San Francisco.
Cal Poly back in action Saturday, Aug. 30 to visit California Baptist! Kickoff on ESPN+ is 7:30 p.m.#RideHigh
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) August 25, 2025
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