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What 2 Watch 4
- For the first time since 2004, Big West champion Cal Poly women’s soccer is headed to the NCAA Championship, and the Mustangs are set for a marquee matchup against one of the nation’s best. Cal Poly (10-2-9) will face No. 1 national seed Stanford (16-1-2) in the First Round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship at 6 p.m. Friday at Maloney Field at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium in Stanford.
The Mustangs earned The Big West’s automatic berth after defeating Blue-Green rival UC Santa Barbara 1-0 in Sunday’s championship final, securing their first conference title in 21 years and fourth overall. Senior forward Jessie Halladay delivered the decisive 89th-minute goal, to capture Big West Championship MVP honors. Halladay, the conference leader in goals (nine) and points (22), also netted the game-winner in Cal Poly’s semifinal victory over Cal State Fullerton.
This year marks Cal Poly’s sixth NCAA Championship appearance and first since 2004, when the Mustangs also faced Stanford in the opening round. The program now returns to the national stage, looking to go on a historic postseason run with head coach Bernardo Silva.
Standing in their path is a Stanford. The Cardinal, one of four No. 1 national seeds in the 64-team field, enters the postseason as the reigning ACC regular-season and tournament champion. Stanford most recently defeated No. 2 Notre Dame in a 5-4 penalty shootout to claim the ACC title. The Cardinal are the only program in the nation to reach the College Cup in each of the last two seasons, boasting three national championships (2011, 2017, 2019) and three runner-up finishes.
Led by 2025 ACC Coach of the Year Paul Ratcliffe, Stanford owns a 73-25-9 all-time record in NCAATournament play and will open the postseason at home for the 24th time in program history.
The Cardinal are a perfect 22-0-0 in first-round home matches and 58-4-5 all-time in postseason contests on The Farm, including an active 18-match home postseason winning streak.
The winner of Friday’s match between Cal Poly and Stanford will advance to the Second Round to face the winner of No. 8 seed Alabama (11-8-1) and Northwestern (9-4-7) next Thursday, Nov. 20.
Tickets for the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship first-round match are currently on sale at tickets.gostanford.com. Fans are encouraged to buy online in advance. Reserved seats are $30 when purchased online and $35 at the box office. General admission tickets purchased online are $25 for adults. General admission tickets purchased at the box office will be $30 for adults, and $25 for youth and seniors.
2025 Big West Women's Soccer Schedule
Cal Poly Championship History
-The Mustangs captured their fourth overall Big West Championship this past Sunday, and their first in 21 years since legendary coach Alex Crozier secured back-to-back titles in 2003-04. CP’s first Big West Championship was secured in 1996. Overall, the Mustangs have won the Big West regular-season title 10 times (1993, 97, 99, 2000, 02, 03, 09, 21*co-champs, and 22).
The Big West NCAA Championship History
The Big West is 14-30-4 all-time in the NCAA Championship, with the league’s deepest run coming from Long Beach State as the lone representative to reach the NCAA Elite 8, under the leadership of current head coach Mauricio Ingrassia. UC Irvine has been the most recent team to make noise in the national postseason, reaching back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16s in 2022 and 2023, under the leadership of Scott Juniper.
Cal Poly specifically holds a 1-5-0 all-time record in the NCAA’s with their 2-1 win over Fresno State in 1999.
Award Winners/All-Big West Accolades
-Cal Poly senior Brennan Cole was named Big West Defensive Player of the Year, junior Annika Smith earned Big West Offensive Player of the Year, and graduate midfielder Madelyn Dougherty joined both on the All-Big West First Team. Senior Jessie Halladay collected Second Team recognition, senior Camryn Penn earned Honorable Mention, and redshirt freshman Shannon Porubski was selected to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
This marks the fifth consecutive season that at least five Mustangs have earned All-Big West distinction.
Smith becomes just the second Mustang ever to be named Big West Offensive Player of the Year, joining Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Famer Elise Krieghoff (2013). The Scottsdale, Ariz. native is tied for the Big West lead in goals (7) and ranks fourth in total points (17).
Starting all 19 matches for Cal Poly, she has totaled seven goals, three assists, and three game-winners while leading the Mustang attack. A two-time Big West Offensive Player of the Week this season, Smith has now earned all-conference recognition in three straight years, including her first career First Team selection.
Cole, the anchor of Cal Poly’s defense, became the sixth player in program history to be named Big West Defensive Player of the Year and the second consecutive Mustang to earn the honor after Emma Brown (2023). The Woodland Hills, Calif. native led a backline that produced eight shutouts, the program’s most since 2022. Starting all 19 matches and leading the team in minutes played (1,664), Cole also contributed offensively with three goals and an assist in the regular-season finale at CSUN.
Graduate midfielder Dougherty rounded out Cal Poly’s First Team selections. In her first season with the Mustangs, the Kula, Hawai‘i native led The Big West in assists (8), tied for the fifth-most in a single season in program history, while adding five goals and ranking tied for second in total points (18).
Halladay earned her second straight All-Big West honor with a Second Team selection. The senior forward led the league in shots per match, tied for the Big West lead in goals (7), ranked second in shots on goal (28), and tied for second in points (18) with four assists. Her 43 career points (16 goals, 11 assists) are tied for the 14th most in Cal Poly history.
Porubski made an immediate impact between the posts to claim a spot on the All-Freshman Team. The Rocklin, Calif. native posted seven shutouts and a 0.86 goals-against average while earning Big West Freshman of the Week honors four times this season.
2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship Final Recap
- For the first time since 2004, No. 2 seed Cal Poly is The Big West women's soccer champion. The Mustangs (10-2-9) secured a 1-0 victory over fifth-seeded and 2024 champion UC Santa Barbara (13-5-5) on Sunday at Matador Soccer Field.
The decisive goal came off the foot of the 2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship most valuable player, Jessie Halladay, who went high to find the back of the net with just 115 seconds remaining in regulation in the contest's only score.
Cal Poly earns The Big West automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division I Championship field, and will learn their seed and first round opponent on Monday at 1 p.m. on ncaa.com. The Mustangs' championship is their fourth overall, on their 10th Championship final appearance, finishing as runners-up in 2021 and '23, with some odd-year magic for Cal Poly resulting in the trophy for first-year head coach Bernardo Silva.
The first half between Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara ended scoreless, with both teams creating opportunities. UCSB's Caitlyn Simons had an early chance in the ninth minute, but the shot struck the left woodwork.
The Mustangs responded with a shot by Sophia Minnite in the 11th minute, which was saved by UCSB's goalkeeper, Maddie Buckley. Cal Poly's Shannon Porubski made a crucial save in the 26th minute, stopping an attempt by Haley Phillips that was heading to the bottom right of the goal.
Halladay led Cal Poly to victory with a late goal in the 88th minute, assisted by Annika Smith and Ava Mirelez. Prior to the goal, Halladay was a constant presence on the attack, taking six total shots and three on target in the game, including one that hit the right woodwork at 54:10. UCSB's Buckley made several key saves to keep the game scoreless until Halladay's decisive strike. The Mustangs' defense held strong, with Porubski making a notable save against an Emily Caughey shot in the 65th minute.
Cal Poly now advances to make the program's sixth appearance in the NCAA Championship bracket, with the previous five trips to the national postseason coming from 1999 to 2004.
2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship Semifinal Recap
-Cal Poly secured a 1-0 victory over Cal St. Fullerton on Thursday at Matador Soccer Field, advancing to the 2025 Big West Women's Soccer Championship Semifinal. The decisive goal came in the second half, with Cal Poly capitalizing on one of their four shots on goal. Cal Poly's defense maintained a clean sheet, with freshman phenom goalkeeper Shannon Porubski making three saves to preserve the shutout.
With the win, Cal Poly improves its season record to 9-2-9 and will advance to the Championship final on Sunday at 1 p.m., from Northridge, Calif. The Mustangs are making their 10th finale, with its last coming in 2023. Cal Poly will be seeking its fourth Big West Championship, having won in 1996, '03, and '04.
The first half between the Mustangs and Titans ended scoreless, with both teams having opportunities to get on the board first. Cal State Fullerton's Sail Bozinovic attempted an early shot in the third minute, missing left, and later forced a save from Cal Poly's Porubski in the 24th minute. The Mustangs responded with several chances, including shots from Siena Urzua and Jessie Halladay, both of which went wide, and Camryn Penn's attempt in the 32nd minute was saved by Big West Goalkeeper of the Year Isaac Ranson. Despite their efforts, neither team managed to find the back of the net in the first period.
Cal Poly scored the game's lone goal on a decisive penalty kick goal by Halladay in the 75th minute. The Titans had several offensive opportunities, including four corner kicks in the second frame, but failed to convert any into goals. Porubski made a crucial save against an 87th-minute shot by Isabella Contreras, helping to maintain the advantage and secure the win.
Mustangs Madelyn Dougherty and Lauren Collier each contributed to Cal Poly's offensive pressure, both registering a shot on goal, with Halladay's game-winner proving the difference.
Ranson played a crucial role for the Titans with three saves over the course of the match, facing seven shots and conceding only one goal. Isabella Cruz and Bozinovic were both active offensively, registering two shots with one on target. Contreras also tested the opposing goalkeeper with a shot on goal. Despite their efforts, the team was unable to capitalize on these opportunities.
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