A new frontier for Cal Poly soccer
Cal Poly’s men’s soccer team kicked off its 2026 preseason training camp on a crisp Tuesday morning in San Luis Obispo, marking the start of a pivotal season that will see the Mustangs step onto the Pac‑12 stage for the first time after capturing back‑to‑back Big West regular‑season titles.
The program’s move to the Power Five came in March, and the schedule now features a 16‑day countdown to a season‑opening showdown with Denver on August 20. In the weeks leading up to that debut, Cal Poly will host San Francisco on August 9 and travel to Stanford on August 15 for exhibition matches that will fine‑tune the lineup before conference play begins.
Returning firepower
The returning core includes junior forward Quinn Mahoney, the program’s active career leader with eight goals, and sophomore defender Tanner Casey, who scored four times in 2025 and found the net in three of his first four collegiate appearances. Their experience forms the backbone of an attack that also features senior Jack Civitts and sophomore Michael Vick, each of whom contributed five assists last season.
Civitts added two goals to his playmaking tally, while junior forward Finn Linas chipped in with two scores. Midfielders Rylan Firouznam, Charlie Hogan and Colin Pearce are also back after getting on the scoresheet in 2025, giving the squad depth and versatility as they prepare for a six‑game Pac‑12 schedule where the top four teams will qualify for the conference tournament.
Beyond the Pac‑12 slate, Cal Poly will test itself against familiar regional opponents, including a home match against California Baptist and a visit to Gonzaga, before the conference season begins. The non‑conference fixtures provide valuable minutes for younger players and help solidify roles ahead of the high‑stakes conference campaign.