LOS ANGELES, Calif. –West Texas A&M's postseason run came to a close on Thursday night as the No. 17 Buffs battled No. 16 Cal Poly Pomona to a 2-2 draw in double overtime. The Broncos claimed the third round victory on penalty kicks, 4-2, at the University Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Buffs end the 2021 campaign 14-4-1 while Cal Poly Pomona enters the quarterfinal matches 14-4-4. The Broncos will face the nationally-ranked sixth and regional host Golden Eagles of Cal State LA on Saturday, Dec. 4 with kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT.
After 43 minutes of scoreless action, CPP opened scoring in the 44
th-minute as Melvyn Perez Cortez found Oscar Griehsel Facey take a 1-0 lead before the half.
The Buffs jumped on the board in the 54
th-minute when
Giancarlo Saldana buried his 12
th goal of the season. Broncos' keeper Jordan Aldama stopped
Ricardo Castillo's shot before the Buffs recovered possession by
Anthony Perea. The sophomore chipped the ball into the goal area for Saldana head the pass into the back of the net.
Perea recorded his own score after doubling the Buffs lead in the 69
th-minute. The Frisco, Texas product completed a pass from Saldana to make it 2-1 in favor of WT. With less then four minutes left of regulation CPP's Eduardo Faria netted his 11
th goal of the season to send the match into overtime.
Neither team was able to connect with the back of the net in overtime to head into the penalty period. CPP drilled each other opportunities while only
Arturo Barrera and
Callum Doyle were able to convert the penalties.
The Broncos outshot WT 15-11 with eight landing on frame while the Buffs landed six on target.
Chris Palomino and
Anthony Perea each recorded two shots with Perea leading the offense with two on goal.
Tom Miles ended the night with six saves, finishing the season 13-2-1.
Penalty Results (CPP, 4-2):
WT –
Giancarlo Saldana MISSED
CPP – Paul Henschke MADE
WT –
Stefan Andjelic MISSED
CPP – Eduardo Faria MADE
WT –
Arturo Barrera MADE
CPP – Jerry Ramirez MADE
WT –
Callum Doyle MADE
CPP – Fin Jackson MADE
