Men’s soccer fell to No. 9 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll on Oct. 28, after earning their first loss of the season. The Pilots lost 1-0 against the Santa Clara Broncos on Oct. 25.
The loss breaks an undefeated streak of 23 games dating back to Sept. 22 of last year, which was the second-longest streak in the nation and longest in program history.
This is their ninth straight week in the top 25 and lowest ranking since they were ranked No. 9 on Sept. 9.
Now, the Pilots have a 10-1-3 overall record and 3-1-2 record in West Coast Conference (WCC) play, putting them at fourth in the conference.
Both teams were kept at a 0-0 stalemate until the Oct. 25 match’s last 15 minutes, when Broncos junior midfielder Niv Berkovitz earned a hard-fought goal after two consecutive blocked shots from junior goalkeeper Miguel-Angel Hernandez. Hernandez ended with a season-high of five saves.
The Pilots and Broncos combined for 40 shots throughout the match. Redshirt sophomore forward Joe Highfield had six shots and two shots on goal. Sophomore forward David Ajagbe and junior forward Anton Hjalmarsson had three shots and a shot on goal each, but none fell.
The Pilots return home, where they are 9-0, to face the San Francisco Dons on Nov. 1.
Kaeden Souki is the Sports Editor for The Beacon, he can be reached at souki28@up.edu.
