SAN BERNARDINO – Cal Poly Pomona, the fifth-ranked men's soccer team in NCAA Division II, defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 2-1, Thursday in the final CCAA conference and regular season match of the season.
The good news came after the match when it was learned that the Yotes had tied Sonoma State for sixth-place in the conference at 4-5-2 and then earned the bid on a tie-breaker to be the No. 6 seed in the CCAA tournament, which begins Sunday. The tie breaker was CSUSB's 1-0 win over the Seawolves in the first week of conference play.
The Yotes will travel to play No. 3 seed Cal State Monterey Bay, ranked No. 25 in NCAA Division II at 1 p.m Sunday. The winner advances to the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 10.
Paul Roger Henschke, the Broncos leading scorer, scored his ninth goal of the season in the 64
th minute of the 90-minute match that proved to be the match-winner after the Yotes' finally broke through on
Nicklaus Sullivan's goal with just 12 seconds left in the match.
Coincidentally, Henschke scored the only goal as the Broncos beat the Yotes 1-0 in a non-conference match at CPP on Sept. 23 with 550 fans in attendance. Attendance at Thursday's finale at Premier Field was a disappointing 56.
The victory improved the Broncos record 12-1-4 overall and 8-1-2 in the CCAA with their only loss to CCAA leader Cal State Los Angeles. CSUSB is now 7-6-4 overall and 4-5-2 in conference play. CSUSB leads the all-time series 27-24-10 but are just 3-6-1 against Pomona in their last 10 meetings.
The Broncos advance to the CCAA conference semifinals Nov.10 as the No. 2 seed while Cal State L.A., ranked No. 4 in Division II, will be the No. 1 seed after beating Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday, 4-2, to finish the regular season 15-1-1 overall and 10-1 in the CCAA.
Chico State, ranked No. 11 in Division II, took the No. 4 seed in the tournament with 18 points, finishing with its sixth tie of the season Thursday to finish conference play at 4-1-6 and 11-1-6 overall. The Wildcats will host Cal State San Marcos the No. 5 seed, Sunday. The Cougars tied Cal State Bay 1-1 to finish its CCAA schedule at 4-4-3, good for 15 points. The Cougars are 7-7-4 overall.
Thursday's match went the Broncos' way early with two shots in the first nine minutes before Woody Angell opened the scoring with a goal, his fourth of the season, just 10:35 into the match for a 1-0 lead.
The Yotes tried five shots in the first half and two of them were saved by Broncos goalkeeper CJ Walker. Another CSUSB try was ruled a "team save."
Henschke put the Broncos up 2-0 in the 64
th minute. The Yotes totaled nine shots in the final 45 minutes but couldn't come up with a score until Sullivan's last minute try, the last of his six shots, three of which were on goal.
The Yotes had plenty of opportunities in the match with 14 shots, five of them on goal.
With his fifth goal of the season, Sullivan ties
Brian Castillo for the team high in goals. His five assists give him the team lead in total points scored at 15.
Yotes goalie John Samano made one save while facing 13 shots attempted by the Broncos, only two of which were on goal. Samano's record in goal this season is now 3-2-1.
FOLLOW THE YOTES – Watch the Yotes play CSU Monterey Bay at 1 p.m. Sunday (Nov.5) in the CCAA conference tournament.
