POMONA, Calif. - In an unforgettable performance, the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos defeated the No. 1 ranked Colorado School of Mines 2-0 in the NCAA Quarterfinals. This historic victory marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs, and the second time this season—and in program history—that the Broncos have triumphed over the top-ranked team in the nation.
The match was a showcase of skill, resilience, and determination, with the Broncos taking the lead in the 31st minute. Bella Anderson sprinted down the field to set up a corner kick for Tara Oper, whose perfectly placed ball found Liberty Ortiz in front of the goal. Ortiz made no mistake, heading the ball past the keeper to give the Broncos a 1-0 advantage.
In the final moments of the first half, goalkeeper Bella Hara made a spectacular save in the 45th minute, denying Colorado School of Mines a penalty kick and preserving the Broncos' lead.
The Broncos would seal the win in the 63rd minute when Marisa Salazar found the back of the net, extending the lead to 2-0. Despite being out shot 15-9 by the Orediggers, the Broncos' defense, led by Hara's crucial stops, stood strong to keep the clean sheet intact.
With the win, Cal Poly Pomona advances to the NCAA Final Four in Matthews, North Carolina—the program's first appearance in the Final Four since 1999. The Broncos now look ahead to the semifinals with a historic opportunity to make an even deeper run into the national championship race.
Up Next:
The Broncos head to Matthews, North Carolina for the NCAA Semifinal match on Friday, December 13th.
Bronco Bits:
- Jay Mason is now 80-48-23 as a head coach of the Broncos.
- The Broncos continue their best start in program history with a record of 20-1-2 overall.
- The Broncos are now 5-0 in postseason.
- This is the first time since 1999 that the Broncos have advanced to the Final Four.
- This is the second time this season that the Broncos have defeated the No. 1 ranked team.
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