SEASIDE, Calif. — Neither the rain nor an early deficit could slow down No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer Thursday night, as the Otters rallied for a 4-2 victory over Cal Poly Humboldt at a rain-soaked Cardinale Stadium, securing their 10th win of the season and extending their unbeaten streak to seven consecutive matches.
The victory improved Monterey Bay to 10-2-3 overall and 6-1-3 in CCAA play, marking the program's first 10-win campaign since 2023 and its third double-digit victory season of the NCAA Division II era.
The Otters have now won six consecutive matches and are unbeaten in their last seven (6-0-1), continuing a remarkable stretch that has propelled Monterey Bay into the national rankings.
Playing through rainy conditions, CSUMB found itself trailing in the 34th minute when Humboldt's Ethan Gyenis opened the scoring.
However, the Otters responded with a remarkable late first-half surge, scoring twice in a span of just 22 seconds to turn a one-goal deficit into a halftime advantage.
Fernando Caballero sparked the comeback at 44:10, netting his first goal of the season to pull Monterey Bay even at 1-1.
Before the Lumberjacks could recover,
Antonio De La Cruz struck just 22 seconds later at 44:32, finishing an opportunity created by
Aziah Nelson to give the Otters a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
The quick-strike offense completely shifted the momentum, allowing Monterey Bay to carry a one-goal advantage into the second half.
The Otters continued to apply pressure after the break, eventually extending their lead in the 69th minute.
Fresh off earning CCAA Defensive Player of the Week honors,
Damon Smith continued his impressive offensive contributions, scoring his second goal of the season at 68:38 off an assist from Caballero.
The goal marked Smith's second in as many matches after he opened the scoring in Saturday's 2-1 road victory over No. 9 Cal State San Bernardino.
Just over five minutes later,
Kai Martin put the match out of reach, finding the back of the net at 73:53 for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Caballero provided his second assist of the night, giving the Otters a commanding 4-1 advantage.
Humboldt added a late goal in the 89th minute, but Monterey Bay's four unanswered goals proved more than enough to secure its sixth consecutive victory.
Caballero delivered the standout offensive performance of the evening, finishing with one goal, two assists and four points. The midfielder played a direct role in three of Monterey Bay's four goals, providing the spark that fueled the comeback.
The Otters finished with a 21-15 advantage in shots, including an 11-10 edge in shots on goal. CSUMB was particularly aggressive in the second half, recording 12 shots after halftime.
Goalkeeper
Griffin Welch returned between the posts and recorded eight saves in a complete 90-minute performance, helping preserve the victory despite Humboldt's offensive pressure.
Monterey Bay's six-match winning streak is its longest of the season, while its seven-match unbeaten run dates back to a 3-3 draw at Cal Poly Pomona on Sept. 27.
During the unbeaten stretch, the Otters have outscored their opponents 19-7, highlighted by three consecutive shutouts and a statement road victory over nationally ranked Cal State San Bernardino.
The recent surge has helped CSUMB climb to No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II national rankings, further establishing the Otters as one of the top teams in the West Region.
The Otters will conclude their regular season home schedule on Sunday, Oct. 25 against Cal State East Bay.
