Cal Pac Semifinals Start Thursday
If the regular season meeting between Westcliff and UC Merced did not definitively settle anything, there is a chance for a rematch in the California Pacific Conference Championship tournament this weekend in Merced, Calif. But before that scenario can take place, both teams will need to get through extremely competitive semifinal rounds this Thursday, Nov. 7. The Warriors, ranked No. 16 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, and the Bobcats, ranked No. 20, will need to extend their respective win streaks to earn a rematch. WU (6-0-1, 12-1-2) has not lost since its season-opening setback to Missouri Baptist on Aug. 24, and UCM (6-0-1, 10-0-3) has not been defeated in 13 matches this Fall.
WU, the top seed in the Cal Pac tournament, squares off against #4 La Sierra (4-3, 7-6-1) in the first semi at 4:00, and when the two teams met two weeks ago, the Warriors posted a 2-0 win on their home pitch. UCM will face Soka (4-2-1, 5-9-1) in the 7:00 nightcap. When the two teams met a couple of weeks ago, the Bobcats registered a 5-1 win on their home turf—the same field as this Thursday's rematch.
The winner of the Cal Pac Championship will earn the conference's only automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 21 at sites to be determined.
2024 Cal Pac Men's Soccer Championship Bracket | 2024 Cal Pac Leaders
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CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP |
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SEMIFINALS |
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Thursday, Nov. 7 |
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4:00 p.m. |
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Cal Pac: record 4-3 |
Cal Pac: record 6-0-1 |
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Overall record: 7-6-1 |
Overall record: 12-1-2 |
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Head Coach: David Trevino (10th season) |
Head Coach: Randy Dodge (2nd season) |
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32 |
Goals |
43 |
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2.29 |
Goals per Game |
2.87 |
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|
.143 |
Shot % |
.141 |
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|
15.9 |
Shots per Game |
20.3* |
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1.43 |
Goals Against Average |
0.47* |
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*Led Cal Pac
2024 Head-to-head: Oct. 20—at WU Westcliff 2, La Sierra 0
All-time head-to-head: WU leads the series 5-0-1; WU outscoring LSU 13-2
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7:00 p.m. |
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#3 SOKA LIONS |
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Cal Pac: record 4-2-1 |
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Cal Pac: record 6-0-1 |
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Overall record: 5-9-1 Head Coach: Shawn Beyer (4th season) |
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Overall record: 10-0-3 Head Coach: Albert Martins (12th season) |
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20 |
Goals |
45* |
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1.33 |
Goals per Game |
3.46* |
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|
.136 |
Shot % |
.198 |
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|
9.8 |
Shots per Game |
17.5 |
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|
2.60 |
Goals Against Average |
0.85 |
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*Led Cal Pac
2024 Head-to-head: Oct. 18—at UCM UC Merced 5, Soka 1
All-time head-to-head: UCM leads series 7-4; UCM outscoring SUA 23-14
CALIFORNIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
At UC Merced | Merced, Calif.
Thursday, Nov. 7
Semifinals
4:00 pm - #1 Westcliff vs. #4 La Sierra
7:00 pm - #2 UC Merced vs. #3 Soka
Saturday, Nov. 9
6:00 pm - Championship
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Nov. 21-23
First & Second Round
At sites to be determined
Dec. 2-9
Championship Round
At Scheels Stryker Sports Complex | Wichita, Kan.