Although the game was a sellout, many of the freshmen were still able to get tickets. As the crowd awaited the beginning of the game, the stands quickly filled with green and gold.
This year’s men’s soccer home game against Santa Barbara resulted in an overtime-thriller draw, providing freshman with their first true college rivalry experience.
Although the game was a sellout, many freshmen were still able to get tickets. As the crowd awaited the beginning of the game, the stands quickly filled with green and gold.
“The atmosphere was excellent, just excellent,” food science freshman John Vollmer said. “It was exactly what I wanted to see in a sporting event live and exactly how the college soccer culture should be.”
The men’s soccer game gained much hype in the weeks preceding it, an outcome of Cal Poly’s past three victories at home against the Gauchos.
“The first half definitely lived up to expectations,” Vollmer said. “When they got into each other’s faces, that was awesome. The second half, however, was disappointing.”
Wine and viticulture freshman Kevin Den Hartog said he felt differently about game.
“It was disappointing, and any other soccer game at home would have been better,” Den Hartog said. “Everyone would want to be there, and not because it is expected.”
Though much of the game dragged on with little scoring, the goals that came excited some of the freshmen students in attendance.
“My favorite memory of the game was when we scored the first goal,” dairy science freshman Emma Sills said.
“My most memorable part of the game was when one of the players saved the goal at the last second,” Vollmer said. “I was on the goal side of the stadium so I was able to see it perfectly.”
Some of the freshmen there learned about the long-standing traditions that take place at the rivalry games.
“The most memorable part of the game was when the tortillas were thrown onto the field after Santa Barbara scored,” Den Hartog said.
The Manglers soccer fan club allows students from every grade to get involved, unifying the student body for the purpose of cheering on Cal Poly men’s soccer.
“I love the Manglers,” Vollmer said. “They’re everything that I want in a sports club. I think it’s one of the best ways to solidify being a Cal Poly Mustang.”
When the game was over, some fans walked away disappointed with a 1-1 tie.
“Once the game was over there was this weird 10-second span where everyone just looked at each other,” Vollmer said. “When there is a loss you’re angry, when there is a win you’re happy, but when there is a tie, it’s like it never even happened.”