By james art SAN LUIS OBISPO – In a three-way tie for first place atop the Big West standings with three games remaining in the regular season, the Cal Poly men’s soccer program hosts UC Irvine on Wednesday, Oct. 23, before visiting CSUN on Saturday. Oct. 26 Both games start at 7:00 PM on ESPN+ for Cal Poly (6-4-5, 3-1-2), unbeaten in 10 of its last 11 games and after joining Cal State Bakersfield (6- 3-4, 3-). 1-2) and UC Santa Barbara (9-3-3, 3-1-2) in first place with 11 points after a 1-0 win at Cal State Fullerton (Oct. 19). Three other programs trail the trio by nine points — including UC Irvine (6-7-1, 3-3-0), which has won back-to-back games to stay in contention for the Big West regular-season title. CSUN (2-7-5, 0-4-2), meanwhile, sits at the bottom by two points, with the Matadors seven out of the final Big West Championship spot and facing postseason elimination with a loss at UC Santa Barbara in Wednesday. With one of the stingiest defenses in the nation, Cal Poly leads the Big West and ranks eighth among NCAA Division I programs in goals against average (0.67) and 12th in fewest goals allowed (10 , although five are penalties). Cal Poly remains undefeated at Mustang Memorial Field this season and has only allowed one goal – a penalty kick – in 450 minutes.
CAL POLY VS UC IRVINE: The Mustangs are looking for just their second win against the Anteaters in their last seven games dating back to the 2016 season. UC Irvine won the meeting at home last fall 2-0 and leads the all-time series 20-11-8.
CAL POLY VS CSUN: The Mustangs are undefeated in their last four games against CSUN with three wins since 2019. Winning last season’s game at home, 2-0, behind late goals by forward Connor Lisenby and midfielder Diego Guerra, Cal Poly trailed in the Division I series, 18-13-8.
MCCUNE IN SHOT: After allowing just one goal in his last seven appearances and 667 minutes, junior goalie Nikki McCune enters Wednesday’s game at UC Irvine leading the Big West and ranked fourth among NCAA goaltenders with seven solo shots, eighth in goals-against average (0.61) and 13th in save percentage (.824). Overall this season, McCune — the Sept. 9 and 30 and Oct. 7 Big West Defensive Player of the Week — allowed just five open-play goals (the other four against him were penalties). Earning his first career shutout in the season opener at San Francisco (Aug. 22), McCune posted back-to-back clean sheets in home wins against San Jose State (Sept. 5) and Gonzaga (Sept. 8). After making a career-best six saves in a 1-1 tie at Utah Tech (Sept. 16), he earned back-to-back shutouts in Cal Poly’s 2-0 home win against UC Santa Barbara (Sept. 28), a 1 -0 at UC Davis (Oct. 2) and a scoreless tie at UC Santa Barbara (Oct. 6). His sixth shutout came at home against UC Riverside (Oct. 12), while his seventh came in a 1-0 win against Cal State Fullerton (Oct. 19).