0-0-1, 0-0-0
Denver (RV)
0-0-1, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Denver | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Mustangs Draw 2-2 in Season Opener at Denver with 89th-Minute Goal
8/20/2026 9:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DENVER – Midfielder Colin Pearce (above, right) opened the scoring for the Cal Poly men’s soccer program during Thursday evening’s season opener at Denver and defender Charlie Hogan’s second career goal 77 seconds from full time helped the Mustangs to a 2-2 draw.
Scoring with just the second attempt of Thursday’s match, Cal Poly received a 24th-minute cross from senior defender Keagan Rhodes that was cleared off the goal line by Pioneers defender Grant Lund. The redirected ball ricocheted off Cal Poly sophomore defender Tanner Casey and fell to Pearce, who fired into the top left corner of the Denver net.
The Pioneers, however, required just eight minutes to equalize as a cross from midfielder Ethan Orchard sailed over the top of Mustang goalkeeper Mathew Guerra to defender Erik Collins at the left post. Collins chipped to defender Dominic Kallay, who chested his first collegiate goal into the back of the Mustang net.
Denver forced Guerra into his lone save of the night two minutes after the restart before surging ahead in the 51st minute after a misplayed ball by the Cal Poly defense fell to forward Keegan Kelly. With Guerra charging out from goal, Kelly won the duel and handed Denver a 2-1 advantage.
Outshooting the Pioneers, 8-3, Cal Poly salvaged the road point in the 89th as Hogan redirected a looping pass from freshman defender Peyton Marmion to beat Pioneers goalkeeper Alex Hohl at the right post.
Cal Poly Noteworthy (at Denver)
- Up Next: Cal Poly completes its two-game season-opening road trip on Sunday, Aug. 23 at UC Davis. Kickoff is 7 p.m. with Cal Poly facing UC Davis as a non-conference opponent for the first time in 20 years after the Mustangs joined the Pac-12 in the offseason and UC Davis departed the Big West for the Mountain West.
- Cal Poly matched a program record with just three shot attempts allowed – a feat achieved six previous times and last in 2019 at UC Santa Barbara.
- Pearce’s 24th-minute goal marked his third career strike for Cal Poly following a 2025 effort in a 1-1 draw at Sacramento State and 2024 finalization of a 3-0 home win versus Gonzaga.
- Charlie Hogan’s goal Thursday was his second in the last four outings for Cal Poly after also scoring in a 2-0 win at Cal State Bakersfield to close the 2025 regular season and clinch a second straight Big West title.
- Making his collegiate debut Thursday, Mathew Guerra became the first new Mustang to start in goal since 2023. Two-time Big West Goalkeeper of the Year selection Nicky McCune started all 39 matches for Cal Poly during the past two years before graduating.
- Peyton Marmion and Kevin Jimenez Gutierrez earned their first career assists after playing, respectfully, 58 and 12 reserve minutes.
Team Stats
Colin Pearce (1)
GOAL by CP Pearce, Colin.
23:17
Dominic Kallay (1)
Assisted By: Erik Collins , Ethan Orchard
GOAL by DEN Kallay, Dominic Assist by Collins, Erik and Orchard, Ethan.
31:25
Keegan Kelly (1)
GOAL by DEN Kelly, Keegan.
50:29
Charlie Hogan (1)
Assisted By: Peyton Marmion , Kevin Jimenez Gutierrez
GOAL by CP Hogan, Charlie Assist by Marmion, Peyton and Jimenez Gutierrez, Kevin.
88:43
