By: Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

COLUMBUS – Former Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer captain, and two-time All-American, Cesar Ruvalcaba was taken by the Columbus Crew in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday afternoon. The South Gate native was taken in the second round, 51^st overall, out of Southern Methodist University.
 
Ruvalcaba played in a total of 63 games while at Cal Poly Pomona from 2019-2023, before graduating from CPP and playing the 2024 season as a graduate student at Southern Methodist University in the ACC.
 
A 2019 graduate of Downey High School, Ruvalcaba did not appear in any games for the Broncos until the 2021 season. However, as a redshirt freshman in 2021, he made an immediate impact logging a career-high 2070 minutes on the pitch, while also contributing to nine clean sheets as a defender.
 
As a redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior in 2022 and 2023, Ruvalcaba was named team captain, leading Cal Poly Pomona to a combined 25-5-11 (.744) record in those seasons. He is one of the more decorated players in program history, being named a three-time All-CCAA First Team honoree, two-time United Soccer Coaches All-West Region honoree, and back-to-back United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American.
 
While wearing the Green & Gold, Ruvalcaba played in a total 5,424 minutes with three goals, seven assists, contributing to 28 shutouts, and the Broncos outscoring opponents 140-60 in matches he appeared in.
 
Ruvalcaba stayed in the horse-family after graduating from CPP, going from a Bronco to a Mustang at Southern Methodist University for the 2024 season. He once again made an instant impact, leading SMU's defensive line to seven clean sheets while scoring one goal for SMU. The nationally-ranked Mustangs went an impressive 12-3-6 in Ruvalcaba's lone season, falling to eventual national runner-up Marshall in the Elite Eight.
 
Ruvalcaba now joins the Columbus Crew, being their highest pick in the 2025 draft at 51^st overall. He is the first current or former CPP player under head coach Matt O'Sullivan to be taken in the MLS Draft.
 

Congratulations to former @cppmsoccer captain and 2x All-American Cesar Ruvalcaba for being drafted by the Columbus Crew in the MLS SuperDraft 👏#WeAreCPP pic.twitter.com/WdalNQu2XV

— Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (@cppbroncos) December 20, 2024