IRVINE, Calif. - The field and seeds for the 2022 Big West Women’s Soccer Championship were finalized following Thursday night’s five matches to conclude the regular-season schedule.

This year’s edition features six teams, up from four, with the top two seeds enjoying first-round byes. Those two sides are No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Cal Poly (9-6-3, 6-1-3 Big West, 21 points), and second-seeded UC Davis (9-5-4, 6-2-2 BW, 20 points). The Mustangs also earn the right to serve as hosts for the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 3, and championship match on Sunday, Nov. 6.

In games that ended almost simultaneously Thursday, Olivia Ortiz’s lone goal in the 53rd minute gave Cal Poly a 1-0 triumph in La Jolla and Long Beach State was felled by a late strike at home to UC Davis to make the Mustangs the outright Big West victor. Cal Poly had shared the 2021 regular-season crown with UC Irvine. The Mustangs and Beach began the final day atop the table at 18 points apiece, and in control of their own destinies in terms of the league trophy and first-round byes.

That second bye went the way of the Aggies thanks to Sarah Canavan’s unassisted tally at 83:39. Cal State Fullerton (9-5-5, 6-2-2 BW, 20 points) took the No. 3 seed, equal on points with UC Davis but the head-to-head tiebreaker favored the Aggies, who procured a 2-1 home decision exactly one week prior. UC Davis enters the postseason a winner of five straight, the longest current streak in The Big West.

Long Beach State (6-6-6, 5-2-3 BW, 18 points) is the No. 4 seed, and idle UC Santa Barbara (5-8-6, 4-3-3 BW, 15 points) is the No. 5 seed. Reigning tournament champion UC Irvine (7-5-6, 3-2-5 BW, 14 points) wrestled away the final spot by virtue of its come-from-behind 4-1 defeat of visiting Hawai’i. The Anteaters and Rainbow Wahine were essentially in a win-and-you’re-in showdown for the last Big West Championship berth as Cal State Fullerton scored two goals within the first 25 minutes against CSU Bakersfield, which was the only other team still in contention. The 'Eaters overturned a 1-0 deficit, pulled away late, and gave themselves the opportunity to play on and defend their title.

With the seeding set, first-round action this Sunday, Oct. 30, features third-seeded Cal State Fullerton at home against sixth-seeded UC Irvine at 5 p.m., and No. 5 seed UC Santa Barbara at No. 4 seed Long Beach State for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The two advancing squads will join Cal Poly and UC Davis in San Luis Obispo next week.

Thursday will actually mark a third meeting this season between the Titans and 'Eaters, as they first faced off in non-conference action in Fullerton on Aug. 25, with the home side earning a 2-1 victory. The Big West matchup ended scoreless in Irvine on Oct. 2. UC Santa Barbara knocked off Long Beach State on its Senior Day last Sunday, 2-1.

Start times for the semifinals at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Nov. 3 are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The final is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 6, with Tammy Blackburn (play-by-play) and Gracie Cutler (analyst) on the call. The Big West champion once again earns automatic entry into the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship. The 64-team field for that event will be unveiled live on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 7, at 12:30 p.m. PT.

All six games of the 2022 Big West Women’s Soccer Championship are scheduled to air live on ESPN+; check listings for specific information.