Pearce Scores Twice, but Cal Poly Falls to Cal State Bakersfield, 3-2

Wednesday, September 16

San Luis Obispo, CA

7 p.m.

3-2-3, 0-0-0

Cal State Bakersfield

2-2-2, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
CSU Bakersfield	2	1	3
Cal Poly	1	1	2

Photo by: Chloe Briote-Johnson

Pearce Scores Twice, but Cal Poly Falls to Cal State Bakersfield, 3-2

9/16/2026 10:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior forward Colin Pearce (above) scored twice – converting a 35th-minute penalty and the saved effort from an 82nd-minute spot kick – but the Cal Poly men’s soccer program couldn’t bridge a pair of multi-goal deficits against Cal State Bakersfield Wednesday evening and fell to the Roadrunners, 3-2.

Cal State Bakersfield led Wednesday’s matchup 2-0 inside 22 minutes through goals from forward Oshea Foster and midfielder Charlie Cazares.

Cal Poly (3-2-3) generated four early shot attempts, but nothing on target until junior forward Finn Linas was tripped inside the penalty area dribbling on goal. Pearce stepped to the spot and converted his first career penalty to halve Cal State Bakersfield’s lead heading into the break.

The Roadrunners, however, stretched their lead to 3-1 in the 64th minute through forward Justin Knighton’s shot from outside the penalty area.

Cal Poly was handed a late lifeline with defender Keagan Rhodes undercut in the box while attempting an 82nd-minute shot and Pearce was called upon once more to take the penalty. His initial attempt was saved, but he fired the rebounded ball over the goal line for the 3-2 deficit.

Cal Poly Noteworthy (versus Cal State Bakersfield)

Up Next: The big one. With another capacity crowd expected at Mustang Memorial Field, Cal Poly hosts UC Santa Barbara to renew the Blue-Green rivalry on Friday, Sept. 25. Kickoff is 7 p.m. for the best-attended regular season series in college soccer.
Wednesday’s result marked the first time since a 3-2 loss at Tulsa on Sept. 1, 2024 – a span of 43 matches – that Cal Poly had conceded three goals in a game.
Colin Pearce now leads Cal Poly with three goals while becoming the first Mustang since Quinn Mahoney against Utah Tech (Sept. 18, 2025) with a two-goal game.