PHOENIX – No. 5 San Jose State and No. 3 California Baptist earned a pair of 1-0 victories on Sunday night in the opening round of the 2024 WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament at GCU Soccer Stadium. San Jose State advanced to face top-seeded San Diego State on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. MST in the first WAC semifinal, while CBU is set to square off with No. 2 seed Seattle U at 7 p.m. MST in the nightcap on Nov. 13.
 
San Jose State advanced to the semifinal round of the WAC Men’s Soccer Tournament for the second time in the last three seasons, and the sixth time overall in program history. CBU, the two-time defending conference tournament champion, has yet to lose a match in its third separate trip to the WAC tournament, improving its aggregate record to 5-0-1 since debuting in the event in 2022.
 
No. 5 San Jose State 1, No. 4 Utah Valley 0 | PDF Box Score
 
A rough and tumble first half between two evenly matched teams saw San Jose State and Utah Valley even at 0-0 after 45 minutes. A terrific save by Spartans goalkeeper Ronin Axelson in the 48th minute denied the best Utah Valley chance of the evening early in the second frame. Both sides traded tries off the post into the 83rd minute before WAC Offensive Player of the Year Angel Iniguez earned a penalty for San Jose State. Iniguez buried the try into the right side of the net for his eighth goal of the season and a 1-0 Spartans edge at 82:33. Utah Valley finished the contest with a 12-10 lead in shots, including 4-2 in shots on goal, but were unable to find the equalizer.
 
San Jose State keeper Axelson was credited with two saves in the match to earn his third consecutive shutout.
 
No. 3 California Baptist 1, No. 6 Utah Tech 0 | PDF Box Score
 
CBU broke through a stout Utah Tech back line in the 62nd minute for the match’s lone goal. Following a Lancer corner kick, Blake D’Agostino shoveled in an Alex Henderson rebound that ricocheted off the bar for his sixth goal of the year and a 1-0 CBU advantage at 61:46. CBU goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego and Utah Tech goalkeeper Stockton Short traded fantastic saves down the stretch to keep their teams in position, with Do Rego making three stops over the final 20 minutes to preserve the victory.
 
CBU’s Do Rego contributed four total saves to the Lancer cause in goal to notch his fifth solo shutout of the season.