SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma men's soccer team ceded their home opener to the No. 9 ranked Cal Poly Pomona, 1-0, on Saturday, Sept. 5 as CPP sophomore Sergi Monso finished a late opportunity for match's only goal in the 85th minute.
 
With around five minutes to go, the Broncos (1-0-1) would make the most of one of their only opportunities.  The play started with a throw-in from the right side that moved through the middle and was hit into the 18-yard box where Monso would make a pirouette shot and finish the chance in the far left corner for the goal.
 
"They deserved the result," said PLNU head coach Phil Wolf. "They're definitely a good team and we have to get better."
 
The Sea Lions (1-1-0) had some early chances but were unable to capitalize. The home opener started off a bit frantic with the midfield and the lone forward, junior Nico Tagaloa, struggling to connect but they found a little rhythm midway through the first half.
 
That effort continued throughout the half and the match as the Sea Lions would put pressure on the CPP goalkeeper leading to an opportunity for junior Val Doppenberg. Doppenberg would rob the keeper of the ball with a well-anticipated run and pass it to Tagaloa who was marked too closely on the outside to get a good look at the goal in the first half.
 
The final minutes of the first half would see the Broncos surge forward to take dangerous shots, all saved by junior goalkeeper Michael Lambert. CPP would continue their momentum into the second half with two early shots, both coming in the first few minutes.
 
In the second half, the Sea Lions held their ground and continued to work through the midfield and the flanks but could not get that run they were looking for into the box. Then tactically, as the clock wound down, it looked as if PLNU would play for the tie until Monso dashed their chances late.
 
The PLNU men's soccer team will stay home for a pair of matches Thursday, Sept. 10, and Saturday, Sept. 12, against Cal State Los Angeles and Sonoma State respectively.
 
"The daunting thing is that these are the best teams and I think we're playing all of them," said Wolf. "But at the end of the day we're improving as a program and competing on level terms."