Poly men's soccer team routs SJSU, 3-0

The Cal Poly men’s soccer team dominated San Jose State 3-0 Tuesday night at the Sports Complex to improve to 3-3-4 on the season.

The team is changing under first-year head coach Paul Holocher, who was head coach at UC Santa Cruz from 1999-2005. He left the Banana Slugs with an NCAA Division II Championship appearance in 2004 and a record of 109-24-7.

Now Holocher is taking on the challenge of developing a revised soccer program and enjoys working with a young team.

“It’s been a lot of fun working with these guys,” Holocher said. “They’re a terrific group of players.”

Sophomore midfielder Julian Alvarez scored the first goal of the game at the 11-minute, 55-second mark.

“(Alvarez) had terrific control of the ball, dribbled well down the field, held off defenders to finish,” Holocher said. “It was a classy goal.”

Less than a minute later, sophomore forward Jeff Meyer Jr. scored the Mustangs’ second goal when he finished off a pass given to him by Alvarez.

In the first half of the game Cal Poly dominated the field, but it was San Jose State which demonstrated excellent ball control.

In the second half of the game, both sides equally had goal possibilities from corner and free kicks, but nothing came from them.

“We can’t hold the ball and give it right back to them,” Holocher said.

The last couple minutes of the game, fans began to pack up thinking that was game until freshman midfielder Jose Garcia woke them up.

Only 53 seconds were left in the game when Garcia on a break from a counter attack went for a corner kick and sank the ball in to make it 3-0.

Garcia said it’s always hard to make an end-of-the-game shot, but “it felt good to put the third one in to ensure the win for the team.”

Garcia finished with six shots (three on goal) and an assist.

Cal Poly goalkeeper Eric Branagan-Franco needed to make just one save.

Cal Poly assistant coach Glenn Fens, who’s been a face on the team for 16 years, said this year’s team displays a dedicated work ethic and will do well this season even playing on a different field.

In all the years Fens has been part of the Mustangs, this is the first year the team will play its home games at the Sports Complex. Cal Poly played in Mustang Stadium (now Spanos Stadium) before its renovations began.

The Mustangs visit UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Saturday before returning home for a matchup Oct. 4 with UC Riverside.

“We’re not the biggest; I think we’re quick, fit and have a lot of heart,” Holocher said.