Air Force Hosts Cal Poly for Friday Matchup

MATCH 05
Air Force (0-3-1) vs. Cal Poly (0-2)
7pm MT, Friday, September 5
Cadet Soccer Stadium – USAF Academy, Colo.

Air Force returns home for the second match of the week with sights set on getting into the win column for the first time this season, hosting Cal Poly on Friday, September 5.

INSTALLATION ACCESS PROCEDURE
Access procedures at the U.S. Air Force Academy continue to affect athletic events. While the installation remains open, anyone without a DoD ID card must obtain a visitor pass to enter the base.

New this year: Passes will now be issued monthly instead of requiring a separate submission for each event. This means ticket holders only need to complete the form once per month to gain access to all events during that time. Ticket holders can request a base pass using the link provided below.

After registering, you will receive a message on our phone to present at the gate when entering the Academy. Fans must also present their game tickets at each venue. All tickets and credentialed attendees can enter through the North or South gate. North gate is recommended for access to athletic fields; while fans are encouraged to use the North and South gates for football games.

Note: When completing the information from the link, please use the information directly from your driver's license (Robert vs. Bob). Your ID must also be REAL ID compliant. Anyone under 18 will not be required to do a QR code.

Intercollegiate Athletics Access Link, Sept. 1-30, Click HERE.
(Includes all intercollegiate events in September, except football)

A LOOK AT POLY
The Mustangs will take the pitch under the command of coach Oige Kennedy, the reigning Big West Coach of the Year honoree in his third season at the helm.

For the first time in Cal Poly history, multiple Mustangs were named to a Hermann Trophy Watch List as senior goalkeeper Nicky McCune and junior defender Parker Owens earned Aug. 21 candidacy for collegiate national player of the year recognition. Among the 29 standouts named, Cal Poly joined Cornell as the only programs – among more than 200 Division I squads – with two candidates. A total of 15 players will be named 2025 Hermann Trophy semifinalists on Dec. 9 at the conclusion of NCAA Division I All-America voting. From that list, three players will be voted as finalists with the 2025 recipient announced Jan. 9, 2026, at the historic Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Poly is 0-2 with no goals so far this season, falling to a pair of Western Athletic Conference teams in San Jose State (2-0) and California Baptist (2-0).

THE SERIES WITH THE MUSTANGS
Facing Air Force for just the second time in the last nine years, Cal Poly has won three of the previous four decisions – including a 2-1 victory in San Luis Obispo in the last meeting on Sept. 17, 2023. The Mustangs have visited Air Force just twice prior, falling on Sept. 7, 2010 (2-1), but prevailing on Sept. 27, 2013 (5-1). Cal Poly leads the all-time series, 4-2-1.

LAST TIME OUT
Falcon men's soccer played UC Riverside to a draw on Labor Day, 2-2, at UCR Soccer Stadium. Air Force tallied a season-high two goals in the effort. AF newcomers C3C Marcos Goni and C4C Tucker Kern recorded strikes with Oliver Becker assisting Goni in the first goal.

NEXT UP
Air Force remains at home next week as they welcome Mercer and South Dakota Mines for non-conference matches on Thursday (Sept. 11) and Sunday (Sept. 14), respectively. Action at Cadet Soccer Stadium is slated for 7pm on Thursday and 1pm on Sunday.

DO NOT GO QUIETLY
The Falcons have denied the shutout in every show, despite being outshot 82-26 by opponents so far this season. Contrarily, AF is ranked seventh in the nation in shot accuracy (.577), and 35th in the nation in saves per game (4.75). Sophomore keeper Brody Smith has been tested in the early season, making 18 total saves for the 13th most in the NCAA.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Oliver Becker

Marcos Goni

Tucker Kern

Brody Smith

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