Nick Larson
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Men’s soccer
In the next few days, the Cal Poly men’s soccer team will take on two opponents who come from very different backgrounds.
Thursday in Alex G. Spanos Stadium, the Mustangs will face Grand Canyon at 7 p.m., the first-ever meeting between the two programs. In 2013, their first year in Division I, the Antelopes (commonly referred to as the Lopes) struggled to a 4-14-1 record.
Despite the youth of their Division I program, the Lopes are 1-1 on the season and will present a tough test to the Mustangs.
On Sunday, the Mustangs will face a much different opponent, UCLA. The Bruins are currently 3-1-0, and ranked No. 1 in the nation. The perennial powerhouse defeated top-10 team New Mexico in its last match.
Last season, the Mustangs upset the Bruins in Los Angeles by a definitive score of 3-0. When the rematch takes place at UCLA this Sunday at 5:30 p.m., the Bruins will surely be seeking revenge. The game will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network.
Women’s soccer
The Cal Poly women’s soccer team will look to rebound from a tough loss at No. 11-ranked California last weekend when it travels east to take on Oklahoma State. Despite their 0-6 record, the Cowgirls will be a tough opponent, having faced multiple top-10 opponents already this season.
Junior forward Elise Krieghoff will look to return to her scoring form from a year ago, where she averaged more than one goal per game. The matchup against the Cowgirls kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday.
The Mustangs will then travel to Oral Roberts for a 10 a.m. match Sunday. The Golden Eagles are 2-2-2 this season.
Women’s volleyball
After winning its first match of the season against Montana, the women’s volleyball team has dropped four straight contests. This weekend the Mustangs are hosting the ShareSLO Tournament, which includes their first matches in the newly renovated Mott Athletics Center.
The young Cal Poly squad, featuring nine freshman, has put up a fight in each of their matches, losing only one in three sets. The Mustangs are nearly even with their opponents when it comes to kills, winning 247 points via that method, while their opponents have won 248 with a kill. The discrepancy comes in the “error” category, where the Mustangs have committed 132, which is 54 more than their opponents.
The Mustangs will face Bakersfield on Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday features a double-header, where the Mustangs will take on San Jose State at noon and Sacramento State at 7 p.m.