7-5-5, 4-2-2
CSUN
6-6-5, 1-5-2
McTague’s Game Winner Secures Cal Poly’s Spot in Big West Postseason
10/26/2025 6:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — In the penultimate week of conference play, Sean McTague scored the game's only goal to secure a 1-0 victory over CSUN at Mustang Memorial Field, clinching a spot for the Mustangs in the Big West Championship.
Cal Poly (7-5-5, 4-2-2 Big West) earned three pivotal points at home, boosting its total to 14 and drawing level with UC Irvine for third place. The win kept the Mustangs' hopes of defending their 2024 regular-season title alive after co-leader UC Santa Barbara (16 points) and UC Irvine played to a draw on Saturday, and the other co-leader, Cal State Fullerton, dropped points against UC Davis.
The Mustang defense was stifling for most of the match, allowing just seven total shots, only three of which were on goal. Goalkeeper Nicky McCune saved all three attempts to earn his sixth shutout of the season.
The first half was a quiet offensive affair. Cal Poly’s only significant scoring opportunity came in the 35th minute when Oren Stuppel whipped a cross from the left corner of the 18-yard box, just for a CSUN defender to clear it off the line.
The game opened up after halftime, and McTague finally broke the deadlock at the start of the 65th minute. The redshirt junior collected the ball near midfield and dribbled 20 yards, largely unchallenged by the Matador defense, into the 18-yard box before slotting home his fourth goal of the season. McTague placed a diagonal shot across the goal into the lower right corner, past the diving keeper, tying him with Quinn Mahoney and Tanner Casey for the team lead.
McCune and the defense stood tall against a frantic CSUN attack in the final ten minutes, making saves in the 83rd and 85th minutes to secure the crucial victory.
The physical match featured 23 total fouls. Cal Poly's Jake Oetinger (8’), Joaquin Torres (31’), and Jackson Miller (63’), along with CSUN’s Samahj Oyewo (77’), all received yellow cards.
Cal Poly concludes its Big West schedule Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cal State Bakersfield, where it will battle for a second straight conference regular-season title. To win the title, the Mustangs need a victory over the Roadrunners and losses by both Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara, due to tiebreaker scenarios that are not in Cal Poly’s favor.
Team Stats
Sean McTague (4)
GOAL by CP McTague, Sean.
64:01
