SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- It took 110 minutes and five rounds of penalty kicks to decide who would advance to the 2024 Big West Men's Soccer Championship, Sunday from Mustang Memorial Field at Spanos Stadium. The 1,582 fans saw a tightly-contested battle between No. 1 seed and regular-season champion Cal Poly and fourth-seeded Davis who played to a 1-1 draw in the semifinals. The Aggies ultimately secured the advancement in a penalty shootout, 5-4.
 
Fourth-seeded UC Davis (9-5-6) goes to the Championship finale, set for Friday, Nov. 15 against No. 2 seed UC Santa Barbara from Harder Stadium at 7 p.m. The Aggies are making a second consecutive final and sixth overall. UC Davis is seeking its second postseason trophy (2019). Meanwhile, Cal Poly caps its year at 7-4-8 and the regular-season trophy.
 
The first half saw Cal Poly take an early lead, with a goal scored by Nico Baltazar in the 26th minute, assisted by Quinn Mahoney and Bakuena Ramakatsa on a set-piece. UC Davis managed a few attempts on goal, including a shot by Zack Lillington early on, but Big West Goalkeeper of the Year Nicky McCune was effective for the home team, making key saves. At halftime, the Mustangs led 1-0, with both teams showing aggressive play but limited scoring opportunities.
 
The second period began with UC Davis taking control offensively, firing off multiple shots early in the half. UC Davis' Zachary Neuls scored the equalizing goal in the 52nd minute, assisted by Lucas Fernandez-Kim on a corner kick, tying the game at 1-1. 
 
With no score in the rest of regulation and in overtime, the game officially goes down as a tie, and moved to penalty kick to decide an advancing team. 
 
In the ensuing shootout between Cal Poly and UC Davis, both teams made four scores each in the regulated five attempts. On the sixth attempt, UC Davis' Lillington was successful and goalkeeper Mekhai Wilson got the game-winning stop.