ATHERTON, Calif. 1 The Cal State San Marcos Cougars men’s soccer team lost 5-3 to the Menlo Oaks on October 1, 2026, at Wunderlich Field in a California Collegiate Athletic Association contest.
The Cougars opened the scoring with two early goals: Cisco Avila netted a goal in the 7th minute assisted by Blake Haseyama, marking his seventh of the season, followed by Matthew Ibarra’s unassisted tally in the 13th minute.
Menlo responded strongly with five consecutive goals to take control of the match. Manuel Portillo scored twice, while Tim Schwarz, Hugo Few, and Sam Archer each added one goal. Schwarz also contributed three assists during the scoring run. Menlo outshot Cal State San Marcos 21-14, with 10 shots on goal to the Cougars’ four, and dominated corner kicks 11-3.
Despite the offensive surge by Menlo, Cal State San Marcos maintained 53 percent possession. Andrew Valencia converted a penalty kick just before halftime to bring the score to 4-3, giving the Cougars renewed hope.
Menlo sealed the victory with Portillo’s second goal in the 83rd minute. This match marked the first meeting between the two programs since 2014 and was Menlo’s first win against Cal State San Marcos in the series.
The Cougars will next host Cal Poly Humboldt on October 9 at 2 p.m. inside The Cage.
CSB Take
Cal State San Marcos demonstrated impressive early offense but could not maintain momentum against Menlo’s dominant comeback. The match underscores the importance of sustained defensive focus and adapting under pressure in the competitive CCAA. The Cougars have an opportunity to learn from this high-scoring game as they prepare to leverage their possession strength and bolster their defense in their upcoming home contest.
Source: Original report
