SEASIDE, CA – History continues to be made for Menlo College Men's Soccer! The Oaks delivered a statement victory on the road Sunday afternoon, taking down #13 Cal State Monterey Bay, 2-1, in the opening round of playoffs to punch their ticket to the CCAA Championship Semifinals. In their first season as official NCAA Division II members, Menlo has officially secured its place among the conference's postseason contenders, adding another memorable chapter to an already historic campaign.
Oak Highlights
Manuel Portillo: Scored the opening goal in the 2nd minute.
Janne Spangenberg: Scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.
Roy Rosenberg: Recorded one assist on the game-winning goal.
Vebjørn Madshus: Totaled eight saves across 90 minutes.
Corner Kicks: Menlo 3 | Monterey Bay 8.
Shots: Menlo 8 (5 on goal) | Monterey Bay 20 (9 on goal).
Postseason History: Menlo advances to the CCAA Championship final site for the first time in its NCAA Division II era.
History in the Making
The Oaks wasted absolutely no time announcing their presence in the postseason. Just 1:55 into the opening half, Manuel Portillo put Menlo on the board with a spectacular strike from outside the 18-yard box, sending a hard-driven ball past the Monterey Bay goalkeeper and into the back of the net. The early breakthrough gave the Oaks a 1-0 advantage and immediately put the nationally ranked Otters on notice. Menlo continued to battle throughout the opening half, creating opportunities of its own while relying on a tremendous defensive effort to protect the lead.
Monterey Bay eventually found its equalizer in the 61st minute, converting a penalty kick to bring the contest level at 1-1. With the match hanging in the balance, the Oaks refused to let the opportunity slip away. Between the posts, reigning CCAA Defender of the Week Vebjørn Madshus continued to deliver, turning aside eight Monterey Bay attempts to keep Menlo within striking distance. His performance proved instrumental as the Oaks weathered the Otters' pressure and waited for their moment to strike.
That moment arrived in the 84th minute, and it was one Menlo will remember for a long time. Roy Rosenberg took off down the left sideline, weaving past multiple Monterey Bay defenders before finding Janne Spangenberg unmarked at the back post. Spangenberg made no mistake, placing a perfectly measured shot into the side netting and beyond the reach of the Otter goalkeeper. The finish sent the Menlo sideline into an absolute frenzy as the Oaks reclaimed the lead, 2-1, with just minutes remaining. From there, Menlo held its ground and saw out the final whistle, completing a monumental road victory over the #13 team in the nation. It was a defining performance from a team that has continued to rise to every challenge throughout its inaugural NCAA Division II campaign.
Up Next: CCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
The journey continues Friday, November 6, as Menlo heads to Cal Poly Pomona for the CCAA Championship Semifinals. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 pm PST, with a spot in the CCAA Championship game on the line against #1 Cal State Los Angeles. The Oaks are two wins away from a conference title, and after Sunday's historic result, they have every reason to believe their postseason run is far from over.
