Sadly the mustangs were knocked out of contention for this season’s Big West Conference playoffs with their 1-0 loss to UCI in the final home game of the season. Their was a slim, if any, chance of the mustangs tying the Big West leading anteaters in the rankings, but that chance and any playoff hopes were crushed when CSUN gave the victory to UCSB in their own game. With Santa Barbara winning and the mustangs suffering their fifth conference lost this season, the senior ‘stangs played their last intercollegiate match on the Spanos Stadium grass.
Six mustangs may not have finished their college soccer careers the way the would of liked, but none of them can be disappointed on how they have done that last four years.
- Patrick McLain – goalkeeper
- Wes Feigner – left-back defense
- Ryan Anderson – midfield/forward
- Patrick Sigler – center-back defense
- Cameron Walters – right-back defense
- Evan Richter – midfield
In honor of their blood, sweat, tears, and spirit they have devoted to Cal Poly, the six athletes we’re giving a standing ovation and special introduction before the game.
Head coach, Paul Holocher, said that all of his athletes he considers to be the best of the best and that he was blessed with the senior class he was given four years ago.
Even with the tough loss in the last home game of the season, we mustang fans can look back on this season and smile. Many memories should flood back. The big preseason win against UCLA at Spanos. Upsetting the, then seventh ranked, UCI anteaters. And the epic blue-green rivalry win.
All of the seniors had huge parts that they played in the SB game. Evan Richter made the midfield his kingdom and the Santa Barbara players had to ask permission to get through it. Wes Feighner tragically collapsed and needed to be helped off the field by medics. Cam Walters late header to equalize the game. And of course Siggy’s PK to win it all.
When leaving the home finale game, I took to the crowds to ask them which senior athlete has had the biggest impact on the field this season and got some pretty good feedback. Henry Brown philosophy junior answered right away very emphatically with a loud “SIGGY!!! Patrick Sigler has dominated this season and has given us some huge wins with his PKs and headers!”
Kathryn Richardson, psychology junior interrupted Henry mid Siggy chant, and said that our keeper has had the biggest impact. “It’s not Sigler, its our keeper! He saves at least three goals a game!” Then it became mayhem when the crowd of Mustang Manglers all wanted their opinions to be heard. Every senior on the team was getting his name screamed at me, and all that did was show me how much each of them has impacted our team this year.
Cal Poly’s seniors may not have made it to playoffs but they have made it an exciting season to watch. And its only over at Spanos Stadium. The stangs still have one more epic battle to take place in Santa Barbara to finish the second half of the blue-green rivalry.
And I know midterms are coming about, but everyone should come and support your mustangs in their last game of the season down in SB. Grab your roomies, some grub, and road trip it down to Santa Barbara to “Buck the Guachos” one last time this season. Now that I got the game’s quick shoutout, I’ll leave you this week with the same question I asked the manglers at the game.
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