Friday, September 5
USAF Academy, CO
6 p.m.
1-2-0, 0-0-0
3
at
0
Air Force
0-4-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Cal Poly
3
0
3
Air Force
0
0
0
Photo by: Chloe Briote-Johnson
Mustangs Top Air Force, 3-0, for First Win of 2025
9/5/2025 8:31:00 PM | Men's Soccer
USAF, Colo. – Held scoreless during its opening two games of the season, the Cal Poly men's soccer program saw freshman defender Tanner Casey and sophomore midfielder Rylan Firouznam score 64 seconds apart early in Friday's first half as the Mustangs secured a 3-0 victory at Air Force.
Forward Oren Stuppel added a 40th-minute strike while fellow senior Nicky McCune chalked up five saves in goal to earn his first shutout of the season for Cal Poly (1-0-2).
"Tonight was a great team performance on the road in a notoriously tough environment," third-year Cal Poly head coach Oige Kennedy said. "We started the game well and capitalized on some good early chances to get ourselves some breathing room. Obviously, when you score that early into the game you can be a little bit passive, but I felt the boys kept finding ways to attack.
"We know the strength of our program is always in the entire group. That's what we saw tonight with new players coming in and performing and the entire roster contributing to the performance."
Making his collegiate debut, Casey produced the eventual game-winning goal in the 12th minute with his first career shot attempt, heading freshman defender Michael Vick's corner kick opportunity past Air Force goalkeeper Brody Smith.
Just over a minute later, Firouznam – who redshirted last season through injury – scored his first goal since Oct. 22, 2023 after a cross from the left by senior midfielder Bakuena Ramakatsa ricocheted off the right post. Firouznam corralled the loose ball inside the penalty area and fired past Smith for the 2-0 advantage.
Five minutes before the break, Stuppel handed Cal Poly the 3-0 lead after accepting a pass from sophomore forward Quinn Mahoney in front of goal and shooting past Smith.
McCune, meanwhile, recorded four of his five saves during the second half to preserve Cal Poly's shutout.
"Our program prides itself on having a great attitude toward defending and keeping clean sheets which again we saw in abundance tonight with our efforts to defend the box in the air and fight for the second ball," Kennedy added.
Cal Poly's four-game, season-opening road trip concludes Monday, Sept. 8 at 2024 College Cup semifinalist Denver. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT.
Forward Oren Stuppel added a 40th-minute strike while fellow senior Nicky McCune chalked up five saves in goal to earn his first shutout of the season for Cal Poly (1-0-2).
"Tonight was a great team performance on the road in a notoriously tough environment," third-year Cal Poly head coach Oige Kennedy said. "We started the game well and capitalized on some good early chances to get ourselves some breathing room. Obviously, when you score that early into the game you can be a little bit passive, but I felt the boys kept finding ways to attack.
"We know the strength of our program is always in the entire group. That's what we saw tonight with new players coming in and performing and the entire roster contributing to the performance."
Making his collegiate debut, Casey produced the eventual game-winning goal in the 12th minute with his first career shot attempt, heading freshman defender Michael Vick's corner kick opportunity past Air Force goalkeeper Brody Smith.
Just over a minute later, Firouznam – who redshirted last season through injury – scored his first goal since Oct. 22, 2023 after a cross from the left by senior midfielder Bakuena Ramakatsa ricocheted off the right post. Firouznam corralled the loose ball inside the penalty area and fired past Smith for the 2-0 advantage.
Five minutes before the break, Stuppel handed Cal Poly the 3-0 lead after accepting a pass from sophomore forward Quinn Mahoney in front of goal and shooting past Smith.
McCune, meanwhile, recorded four of his five saves during the second half to preserve Cal Poly's shutout.
"Our program prides itself on having a great attitude toward defending and keeping clean sheets which again we saw in abundance tonight with our efforts to defend the box in the air and fight for the second ball," Kennedy added.
Cal Poly's four-game, season-opening road trip concludes Monday, Sept. 8 at 2024 College Cup semifinalist Denver. Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT.
Team Stats
POLY
AFA
Goals
3
0
Shots
7
13
Shots on Goal
3
5
Saves
5
0
Corners
3
5
Fouls
11
4
Scoring Plays
Tanner Casey (1)
Assisted By: Michael Vick
GOAL by POLY Casey, Tanner Assist by Vick, Michael.
11:56
Rylan Firouznam (1)
GOAL by POLY Firouznam, Rylan.
13:00
Oren Stuppel (1)
Assisted By: Quinn Mahoney
GOAL by POLY Stuppel, Oren Assist by Mahoney, Quinn.
39:07
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's SoccerMF
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's SoccerF/W
/ Men's SoccerD
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