Cal Poly Pomona Women’s Soccer Dominates Under Pressure in NCAA Tournament

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer team keeps showing grit and poise under pressure. Their run in the NCAA Division II Tournament has been nothing short of impressive.

This post takes a look at their journey so far, some recent wins, and what’s coming up next. We’ll also check in on other standout Inland college sports moments.

Cal Poly Pomona Women’s Soccer: Thriving Under Pressure

The No. 4-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos, last year’s NCAA Division II national champs, haven’t allowed a single goal through the first two rounds of this year’s tournament. They’re gearing up for a third-round clash with No. 21 Azusa Pacific at Kellogg Stadium in Pomona—Saturday at 3 p.m.

Coach Jay Mason says he trusts his players to step up when it matters. He’s talked about their determination and how much they believe in each other.

Season Highlights and Key Players

The Broncos locked up their second straight California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular-season title. Yet, they stumbled in the postseason tourney, dropping 1-0 to Cal Poly Humboldt on November 14.

They bounced right back, though, edging Humboldt 1-0 in the NCAA tournament opener. Then they knocked off Simon Fraser 2-0.

Some key players have made the difference:

• Kiarra D’Arcangelo: Knocked in the only goal against Humboldt in round one.
• Vanessa Cruz: This year’s CCAA Offensive Player of the Year, scored in the 33rd minute versus Simon Fraser.
• Marisa Salazar: Added another goal for insurance against Simon Fraser.
• Jenna Tetrault: Freshman keeper with three saves, helping secure the team’s 11th shutout of the year.

Junior defender Mikaela Marr mentioned the squad’s better communication lately. She thinks that’s played a big role in their success.

Rivalry with Azusa Pacific

This next match with Azusa Pacific feels bigger than just a playoff game. It’s another chapter in a rivalry that stretches all the way back to 1990.

The Broncos lead the all-time series 14-7-0 and beat the Cougars 3-1 in this year’s opener. Azusa Pacific, at 12-3-5, hasn’t lost in six of their last seven games and they’re definitely a tough opponent.

Cal State San Bernardino Women’s Volleyball: On a Winning Streak

After taking the CCAA Tournament, the Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) women’s volleyball team heads into the Division II Tournament as the No. 6 seed for the West Regional. The Coyotes, now 22-5 overall, swept San Francisco State to win their seventh conference tourney title.

They’ve rattled off nine straight wins, which is no small feat.

Upcoming Matches and Key Players

CSUSB faces third-seeded Point Loma, the PacWest champ, on Thursday, December 4 at 4:30 p.m. The Division II Final Four is set for December 11-13 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Coyotes, who grabbed the national title in 2019, are hoping to add another trophy to their shelf.

La Verne Women’s Volleyball: Heading to the Elite Eight

The La Verne women’s volleyball team is back in the Division III Elite Eight after a wild win over Johns Hopkins. The Leopards, ranked No. 5, came from an 0-2 deficit to pull off the reverse sweep: 17-25, 21-25, 25-21, 27-25, 15-13.

They’ll take on Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Wednesday, December 3 at 5 p.m. in Bloomington, Ill. That should be a fun one.

San Bernardino Valley College Basketball: Record-Breaking Performance

San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) sophomore guard Bryan Cabrera set a new school record with 11 three-pointers in a non-conference game against Imperial Valley. He led the Wolverines to a 156-52 win.

Cabrera finished with 41 points, and the team broke single-game records for total points, most points in a half (89), and margin of victory (104). SBVC will play Ventura at the Riverside Holiday Classic on Thursday, December 4.

Other Notable Performances

• UC Riverside: Graduate transfer Andrew Henderson dropped 34 points and pushed his career total past 1,000 in an 83-74 win over Grambling State.
• California Baptist University: Junior Filipa Barros snagged Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors after her standout game against Cal State Northridge.
• Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Men’s Water Polo: The team edged out Pomona-Pitzer 13-11, clinching the SCIAC Tournament Championship. Now, they get to host the USA Water Polo Division III nationals—should be a wild atmosphere.

Want more details or just curious about what’s next? Check out the Press Enterprise for updates and deeper coverage.