LACEY, WA — The Simon Fraser University men's soccer team put on a commanding performance on the road, defeating Cal State Stanislaus 3-0 in their second game of the weekend. The match played at St. Martin's grass field, gave the Red Leafs their 1st shutout of the season.
From the opening whistle, SFU displayed a sharp and aggressive approach. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Mads Poulsson, continuing his impressive form, slotted home the match's first goal. Poulsson's strike was set up by a perfectly timed pass from Brandon Torresson, who made his presence feel out wide.
Torresson delivered another precise assist, this time finding Kian Proctor, who made no mistake in doubling SFU's lead. Proctor's goal marked his first for the Red Leafs, and it was a moment of joy for both him and the team.
Despite the two-goal cushion, the game was far from over. Cal State Stanislaus fought back vigorously, but SFU's defence and goalkeeper Jordan Thorson held firm.
The second half saw SFU take command as Koji Poon made a spectacular individual play to secure the victory. Poon took on a center back and managed to squeeze his shot through the near post, sealing the 3-0 win for SFU. His goal was a testament to the offensive depth and creativity that SFU possesses this season.
Defensively, SFU was equally impressive. The back three of Nicolai, Justus, and Aaron Colburne executed their roles flawlessly, blocking shots and disrupting the opposition's attempts to break through. Thorson's clean sheet was well-earned, thanks to their solid defensive work.
Head coach Clint Schneider praised his team's performance, highlighting their adaptability and growth. "Really proud of how the group dealt with the circumstances of this trip. They showed great character, and I think we grew up a little bit. It was outstanding to see Kian get his first goal in an SFU uniform and to have Brandon get two assists. We showed we have depth this year, and I'm excited about how that will play out throughout the season. Today, we played a very good Cal State Stanislaus team, and they were very well coached. I thought they were better than us in the first half, but again, big credit to the guys. Mads scored his chance, and Kian with his to get us up 2-0 going into halftime. In the second half, Koji's goal put the game away. From there, the back three of Nicolai, Justus, and Aaron Colburne did a great job blocking shots and making it difficult to break down."
With this impressive victory, SFU continues to build momentum and confidence as they move forward in the season. Next up, SFU continues their away start with two games on the road in California against Chico St. and Sonoma St.
