After an electric overtime win against Colorado Mesa on Thursday, Cal State LA is set to take Cal Poly Pomona in the NCAA Super Region 4 Final Saturday night. Ahead of Saturday's national quarterfinal game, get to know the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos.

2021 SEASON SO FAR  

A consistent contender in the West Region, Cal Poly Pomona has come on strong in the latter part of the season, losing only two games in their last 14 contests. Cal Poly Pomona (14-4-4) stayed in contention for the CCAA regularseason title, as well as the conference tournament, but eventually dropped both titles to Cal State LA at University Stadium. Earning a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Broncos are back in the national bracket for the sixth straight year.

CPP has been led by a conference-best offense in 2021 that has scored three or more goals 9 times over the course of the season while suffering a shutout only once. The team ranks eleventh in the nation in goal differential (30) and total goals (53), while also ranking tops in the CCAA in total assists (41), total points (147), scoring offense (2.41), and points per game (6.68).

The Broncos opened up their 2021 campaign with split results (2-2-1) but earned a big win against then No. 5 Azusa Pacific on Sept. 15 before shutting out Cal State LA 1-0 in their final non-conference game.
Pomona headed up to northern California where they split points with Sonoma State and San Francisco State in back-to-back double-overtime games. However, after the pair of frustrating ties, the Broncos rattled off eight straight wins in which they outscored opponents 25-2. The run was highlighted by a 7-0 thrashing of Cal State East Bay in which the Broncos put 13 of their 23 shots on frame.

In their final regular season game, Cal Poly Pomona matched up against No. 8 Cal State LA at University Stadium. With the regular season title on the line, Pomona went up 1-0 in the sixth minute before the Golden Eagles responded with two first half goals that proved the difference, 2-1.

The Broncos entered the CCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed, beating Cal State San Bernardino in the semi with a 99th minute golden goal, and advancing to the final against Cal State LA. Cal State LA again defeated the Broncos in the CCAA Tournament match, taking the contest 3-1.

Earning an at-large bid, the Broncos took a seven seed into the NCAA Tournament, pairing up with tenth seeded Biola for a first round game. Cal Poly Pomona took the contest 5-0, to advance to face first and second round host, Midwestern State. CPP defeated the second seed 1-0, scoring the game's only goal on an impressive throw-in-to-header combo.

In the Super Region 4 semifinal, Pomona played sixth seeded West Texas A&M in a wildly entertaining match at Cal State LA. Down 2-1 with less than five minutes remaining, a Pomona corner kick soared into the box where a Buffs defender misplayed the clearance, heading the ball into the back of their net for an own goal. After two periods of overtime, with neither team finding a golden goal, Cal Poly Pomona advanced 4-3 on penalties, with Broncos goalkeeper Jordan Aldama making two big saves.

 
LAST TIME THEY MET

Cal State LA has played Cal Poly Pomona three times this year with the Golden Eagles taking two of three in 2021, including their most recent matchup in the CCAA Tournament Final.

The last time the two teams met in the NCAA postseason was in 2015 when the Broncos ended the Golden Eagles' season with a 1-0 win in the regional semifinals.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Paul Henschke and Eduardo Faria have supplied much of Cal Poly Pomona's firepower on the year, combining for 53 points in 2021 and will be on the attack Saturday night against Cal State LA. The two recently both received First-Team All-West Region honors for their contributions this season and have been a dynamic duo for the Broncos scoring efforts.

Faria, a senior midfielder from Porto Alegre, Brazil, ranked top-five in the CCAA this season in numerous categories, including game-winning goals (3), shot accuracy (0.544), total points (24), total goals (10), shots per game (3.09), and shots on goal per game (1.68).

Henschke, a sophomore midfielder out of Berlin, Germany, has also turned in impressive stat totals that rank near the top of the conference. He ranks second in the CCAA in goals per game (0.59), total goals (13) and total points (39), while also cracking the top five in shot accuracy (0.483), and points per game (1.32).


HOME VS. AWAY SPLITS

Cal Poly Pomona has been strongest at home in 2021, playing to a 6-1-1 line at Kellogg Field while posting a 6-3-2 record on the road. The Broncos have also played three neutral site games this season, going 2-0-1 in those matches.  

In 2021, Cal State LA has been stellar both at home (10-1-0) and on the road (6-1-1). University Stadium has proved a fortress for the Golden Eagles, as the program is currently on a 34-2-4 run at home over the past four seasons.


SATURDAY'S MATCH

Saturday's match between Cal State LA and Cal Poly Pomona will kick off at 6 p.m. PST at University Stadium on the campus of Cal State LA. Stadium gates will open at 5 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the stadium's gate for cash-only purchase, and cost $10 general admission or $5 for students with ID, children under 12 and seniors. The first 50 Cal State LA students with ID will receive free admission and a Golden Eagles rally towel.

The match will be broadcast live on CCAANetwork.com with Michael Nemetz on the call. Fans can also follow along with live stats at LAGoldenEagles.com/game.

In-game updates will also be provided via Twitter at @LAGoldenEagles.