UC Davis
Mustangs Host UC Davis Wednesday on ESPNU; Visit UC Irvine Saturday
9/29/2025 12:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men’s soccer program hosts its first nationally-televised matchup in more than a decade on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at Mustang Memorial Field when welcoming UC Davis on ESPNU. Kickoff for Cal Poly’s Big West opener is 7 p.m. before the Mustangs close the week at UC Irvine on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. Defending Big West regular season champion Cal Poly (3-3-3) extended its unbeaten run to five straight matches following a scoreless draw at Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 27). During its unbeaten streak, Cal Poly has outscored opponents, 12-2, without conceding a goal in the previous 297 minutes. Meanwhile, UC Davis (0-5-3) – which eliminated Cal Poly from the 2024 Big West Championship semifinals on penalties – has scored just five times through its opening eight matches. UC Irvine (5-3-1) enters its Wednesday Big West opener against UC San Diego having dropped three successive 2-0 decisions.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC DAVIS: Forward Oren Stuppel’s 27th-minute strike handed Cal Poly a 1-0 road win in last year’s regular season matchup, but the Aggies have eliminated the Mustangs from the Big West Championship in each of the last two years. UC Davis leads the Division I series, 16-14-5.
CAL POLY VERSUS UC IRVINE: The Mustangs drew last year’s meeting with UC Irvine, 1-1, following a fourth-minute goal from forward Quinn Mahoney as Cal Poly chases just a second victory against the Anteaters during the last 10 years. Cal Poly’s last road win at UC Irvine was a 1-0 decision on Sept. 28, 2011. UC Irvine leads the Division I series, 20-11-9.
HOME SWEET HOME: Cal Poly extended its program record unbeaten home run at Mustang Memorial Field to 12 successive matches with an 8-0 home victory against Utah Tech (Sept. 18). During the streak, Cal Poly has conceded just five 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.
Big West opening week! Cal Poly hosts UC Davis Wednesday, Oct. 1 on ESPNU before visiting nationally-ranked UC Irvine Saturday, Oct. 4. #RideHigh pic.twitter.com/c5EH2ej9g5
— Cal Poly Men’s Soccer (@CPMensSoccer) September 29, 2025
DEFENSE IN FOCUS: After allowing six goals in its opening four matches, Cal Poly has conceded just twice in the last five games. Four of the program’s five shutouts have occurred since a home draw against No. 20 San Francisco (Sept. 11). Two of the eight 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 remains the Big West scoring leader after already having matched 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 – also leads the conference on 10 points and Cal Poly with 15 shot attempts.
MCCUNE IN FRAME: Without a goal allowed in his previous 285 minutes and only six conceded from open play in 798 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 a .758 save percentage and third with a 0.90 goals against average. McCune has twice recorded a season best five saves at California Baptist (Aug. 30) and Air Force (Sept. 5). A starter in 29 of 32 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 .772 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 third 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.
