Cal Poly Rolls Chico-Stays Undefeated in League Play

On a postcard perfect day in San Luis Obispo, the Cal Poly Men’s Lacrosse team rolled to an 18-4 victory over visiting Chico State. The game saw 11 separate Mustang players tally points in a lopsided WCLL league game that helps propel the Mustangs to a 4-0 league record (10-1 overall) in preparation for the league showdown against Stanford next weekend.

Cal Poly’s defense anchored by close defender Gideon Baum #11 and goalie Sean Pihl #8 ground down the visiting Wildcats with a defense that is allowing just 6 goals a game this season and held Chico to just 4.

The Mustangs scored early and often starting with #5 Ben Berkow (1G, 2A) at 9:23 of the first quarter hitting from outside. Cal Poly scored again when #3 AJ Guralas (5G) scored at the 7:58 mark. CP scored again when #30 Matthew Paul (2G, 2A) made a nifty feed from X to Guralas for the finish. The Mustangs struck again at 6:01 when Berkow hit #26 freshman Ben Smith (1G) ripped it top shelf to make the score 4-0. The first quarter blitz continued when #27 freshman Evan Hunter (1G, 1A) fed #14 Patrick Schneider (3G); fresh off being sidelined for injuries; for his first goal of the game at 5:00. It was all the “AJ Show” to close out the first quarter as Guralas scored at 2:49 and 0:01 left in the first quarter to have Cal Poly leading 7-0.

The second quarter showed life for Chico State as they scored first at 13:38. Then Cal Poly scored the next three with a Matthew Paul assist to Patrick Schneider (10:45); a solo goal by AJ Guralas (9:50) and a solo by Patrick Schneider (4:13) to make it 10-1 Cal Poly at the half.

The third quarter again showed Chico State beginning hot with a goal at 13:52. Then at 12:06 Berkow hit #15 Andrew Horton (2G) and Paul went solo at 11:45 to make it 12-2. Chico scored again at the 9:10 mark and then Evan Hunter went unassisted off a dodge to score at 7:24. The scoring continued when #18 Mitch Stickney (2G, 1A) made his mark at 1:07. Cal Poly finished the third quarter when #25 RS Junior Matt Fagan (1G, 1A) fed Andrew Horton for his second goal leaving it 15-3 Mustangs at the end of three.

The Mustangs scored the next three goals in the fourth quarter when #97 freshman Adam Simon (1A) made his presence felt when he fed Stickney for a goal at 13:44. #32 freshman Trey Chambers scored a 5:29 and Matt Fagan hit from the island at 4:45 to finish the scoring for Cal Poly. Chico State scored at 0:02 left in the game to make it the final tally of 18-4.

The win makes Cal Poly tied atop the WCLL regular league standings with Stanford. The Mustangs will be looking for some pay back against the Cardinals from their loss last year in the WCLL Finals in Novato.