Skip To Main Content

CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

Skip to Navigation

Scoreboard desktop

Schedule

All Events
Men's Soccer Celebration
Katie Tozier/CSUMB Athletics

Otters Earn First NCAA Soccer Tourney Bid

Otters head to Pomona for rematch with Cal Poly Nov. 18

November 13, 2023

By: Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)
SEASIDE, Calif. — The No. 21 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer team is going boldly where no CSUMB soccer team has gone before. The Otters will make the trek to Southern California to meet No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Saturday (Nov. 18) at Kellogg Stadium.

This will be CSUMB's first trip ever to the NCAA Soccer Championship after winning a program record 12 games (12–4–4) and finishing third in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2023. As the No. 6 seed in the tournament, the Otter earned a first round bye.

"We are very proud of this group, they are definitely deserving of becoming the first team in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament," says CSUMB Assistant Coach Andrew Livingston.

CSUMB will be facing the Broncos for the third time this season and looking for a breakthrough after dropping 3–1 and 2–1 decisions. In both matches, the Otters spotted Cal Poly a 2–0 lead before nearly battling back.

"We have already faced Pomona twice this season and know they are a good side, but we also know who we are," says Livingston. "We are excited for what is to come and we want playing soccer this time of year to be a common occurrence at CSUMB moving forward."

The winner of Saturday's CSUMB/Pomona game will take on the winner of the other second round match between CCAA champion Cal State L.A. and either Simon Fraser University or Point Loma Nazarene University in the round of 16.

The rest of the NCAA Tournament Bracket can be found HERE.
 

WHERE NO OTTER HAS GONE BEFORE… This will be the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Otter soccer team, which became NCAA tournament eligible in 2007 after completing its move from the NAIA level. The Otters advanced to the NAIA Tournament following the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

THE FIRST (OF MANY)… Although this will be the first trip to the NCAA Tournament for the men's soccer program, CSUMB Athletics is well versed in NCAA Championship play. CSUMB teams have earned a total of 38 NCAA Team Tournament bids since becoming full NCAA members in 2007.

BATTLE OF THE BEASTS… Saturday's meeting between No. 21 CSUMB and No. 6 Cal Poly Pomona will mark the Otters's sixth meeting with a Top 20 opponent in 2023. It's the most Top 20 opponents ever faced by CSUMB in a single season. CSUMB went 1–2–2 in those games, beating (then) No. 8 Cal State L.A. 2–0, tying No. 5 Chico State and No. 20 Colorado School of Mines 1–1, and falling to No. 12 Cal Poly Pomona, 3–1 and 2–1.

OTTERS SET NCAA ERA TEAM RECORD… CSUMB heads to the NCAA Tournament with an impressive statistical resume in 2023. Amongst the records set so far this season are:
MOST POINTS: The Otters have scored 124 points so far in 2023, their most ever at the NCAA level and the second most ever to the 173 points recorded by the 2003 NAIA squad.
MOST GOALS: The Otters have scored 42 goals so far in 2023, their most ever at the NCAA level and the third most ever behind NAIA teams from 2003 (63) and 2002 (43).
MOST ASSISTS: The Otters have 40 assists so far in 2023, their most ever at the NCAA level and the second most ever to the 47 assists recorded by the 2003 NAIA squad.


 
GO OTTERS!





 
Print Friendly Version