| 2025 Big West Men's Soccer Championship Semifinals - No. 2 seed UC Irvine 1, No. 3 seed Cal Poly 0 |
Box Score |
UCI presser |
CP presser
IRVINE, Calif. — In a battle of two Big West regular-season tri-champions, host and No. 2 seed UC Irvine secured a 1-0 victory over third-seeded Cal Poly in the semifinal round of the 2025 Big West Men's Soccer Championship powered by a goal in the 84th minute on Saturday at Anteater Stadium.
The Anteaters (10-3-6) advance to take on the No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara on Friday from Harder Stadium. This will be UCI's eighth championship finale appearance as they'll be trying for the program's sixth league title. The two sides played to a scoreless draw in the regular-season meeting back on Oct. 25, also contested in Santa Barbara, Calif.
The home team outshot Cal Poly 11-8, with four shots on goal, while UC Irvine's goalkeeper
Joe O'Shaughnessy recorded three saves to maintain a shutout and secure the Anteaters' ninth clean sheet of the season.
UC Irvine and Cal Poly played to a tense start in the first half, with both teams unable to break the deadlock. UCI's Marcus Lee had an early opportunity, but his shot in the third minute was saved by Big West Goalkeeper of the Year
Nicky McCune. Cal Poly responded with multiple attempts, including a shot by
Sean McTague in the fifth minute stopped by O'Shaughnessy.
The game-winner came off the foot of junior
Gage Lyons, assisted by
Misael Gonzalez Lopez and
Marcus Lee, to break the deadlock with just six minutes to play. The team effort on offense was showcased by Lyons,
Isaac Powell, Lee and
Agaton Pourshahidi each finishing the match with one shot on goal apiece in the victorious effort.
Cal Poly forward McTague led the offensive efforts for the Mustangs with three shots, two of which were on target. Both UCI's O'Shaughnessy and McCune of Cal Poly recorded three saves in the hotly-contested battle. Cal Poly caps the season at 9-6-5 overall.
Gallery: (11-8-2025) 25 MSOC CHAMPS: No. 2 UCI vs. No. 3 CP