SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (6-7-3, 5-4-0 CCAA) clinched a berth in the CCAA Tournament for the second time in program history with a 1-0 win against UC Merced (3-9-3, 2-6-1 CCAA) on Sunday at The Cage.
GOALS
CSUSM – 74' Brooklyn Baker (Assisted by Andrew Valencia & Manny Solis)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Scoreless after 45 minutes, CSUSM led the half in shots (12-3), shots on goal (4-1) and corner kicks (3-0) while controlling possession for 62% of the period. Five Cougars had two shots each for the half.
- The game's momentum shifted towards the Cougars in the 74th minute. Outside the top of the box on the right side, Manny Solis made a pass to his right to Andrew Valencia, who immediately sent a cross over to the left corner of the six-yard box to Brookyn Baker. On the second touch, Baker put a shot into the upper left portion of the goal to give CSUSM a 1-0 lead.
QUICK KICKS
- CSUSM ended the game with the edge in shots (15-7), shots on goal (5-2), corner kicks (7-3) and possession (59%-41%).
- Baker's goal was his first of the season.
- Valencia's assist was his second of the year while Solis' was his first.
- The Cougars' only other CCAA Tournament appearance occurred in 2023.
- This was the first-ever meeting between CSUSM and UC Merced.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will be look to improve its seed for the first round of the CCAA Tournament in its regular-season finale against fourth-place Cal State LA on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in The Cage.
Latest Men's Soccer
- Nunez Dominguez Named to D2CCA All-West Region First TeamEfren Nunez Dominguez of the Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team was named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region first team, the association announced on Tuesday afternoon.
- Cougars Place Nine on CSC Academic All-District Men's, Women's Soccer TeamsOli Barrosa, Tony Flores and David Ruiz of the Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team and Brittany Brown, Charlotte Leite, Emily Mahmoud, Diana Mendoza Danielle Paulson and Natalie Paulson of the Cal State San Marcos women's soccer team were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team on Tuesday.
- Cougars Fall to Warriors in CCAA Tournament Championship GameThe Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (7-8-5) saw its 2025 season come to a close with a 3-0 loss to No. 3 Stanislaus State (16-1-1) in the championship game of the CCAA Tournament on Sunday at Cardinale Stadium.
- CSUSM Upends No. 9 CSUDH with Overtime Win in CCAA Tournament SemifinalsThe fifth-seeded Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (7-7-5) upset No. 9 and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills (12-3-4) with a 3-2 overtime victory in the semifinals of the CCAA Tournament on Friday at Cardinale Stadium on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay.
- Nunez Dominguez, Haseyama Earn All-CCAA HonorsThe Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team had two student-athletes take home All-CCAA honors as midfielder Efren Nunez Dominguez was named to the first team, while defender Blake Haseyama was named an honorable mention by the conference on Wednesday.
- CSUSM Overcomes Two-Goal Deficit, Wins on Penalty Kicks in CCAA Tournament First RoundThe fifth-seeded Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (6-7-5) overcame a two-goal deficit and won 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout to eliminate fourth-seeded Cal State San Bernardino (9-3-7) following a 2-2 draw in the first round of the CCAA Tournament on Sunday at Premier Field.
