POMONA, CA – Menlo College Men's Soccer team saw its historic 2026 season come to a close Friday afternoon, falling 4-1 to the nation's top-ranked team, Cal State LA, in the CCAA Championship Semifinals. Competing in their first season as full members of the CCAA, the Oaks earned their place among the conference's final four and took the field against one of the premier programs in the country. While the result was not what Menlo had hoped for, the Oaks' postseason run marked another important milestone for a program that continues to establish itself at the NCAA Division II level.
Oak Highlights
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CCAA Championship Semifinal appearance in Menlo's first season as a full NCAA member.
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Hugo Few converted a second-half penalty kick for Menlo's lone goal.
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Vebjørn Madshus anchored the Oaks in goal, making an important stop.
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Menlo put together multiple scoring opportunities throughout the second half, forcing Cal State LA into four saves.
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Despite Cal State LA doubling the shot count offensively (14-7), the Oaks matched the Golden Eagles with 5 shots on frame.
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The Oaks earned 5 corner kicks and defended 7.
Oaks Continue to Fight
Cal State LA struck first in the 13th minute, taking an early 1-0 advantage. The Golden Eagles added to their lead in the 39th minute before finding the back of the net again just before halftime, sending Menlo into the break trailing 3-0. Despite the deficit, the Oaks continued to compete and looked for opportunities to generate momentum. Jonathan Sald provided one of Menlo's best chances of the opening half, putting a shot toward the bottom right corner in the 36th minute, but Cal State LA's goalkeeper came up with the save. Liam Brittenstam also tested the Golden Eagles' defense with a late first-half attempt.
The Golden Eagles extended their advantage to 4-0 just four minutes into the second half, but Menlo continued to push forward. The breakthrough came in the 59th minute when Hugo Few took on multiple Golden Eagles on a drive into the box where he was taken down. Few stepped up to the penalty spot and calmly converted, putting the Oaks on the scoreboard and cutting the deficit to three. Menlo continued to create opportunities following the goal, with Harnoor Sidhu forcing another save in the 62nd minute. Tim Schwarz and Giuseppe Sigala also tested Ramirez late in the contest, each putting shots on target as the Oaks searched for another breakthrough. Madshus remained active on the opposite end, making a key save in the 78th minute to keep the Golden Eagles from adding to their advantage. Though the comeback would not materialize, Menlo continued to battle through the final whistle against the nation's top-ranked side.
A Season to Build On
Menlo closed its inaugural CCAA season with a 9-7-3 overall record and a 6-4-2 mark in conference play, earning the No. 5 seed in the CCAA Championship tournament and securing the program's first postseason appearance of the NCAA era. In his first season coaching in the CCAA, Head Coach Keith Lambert guided three Oaks to All-CCAA recognition, with Hugo Few earning First Team honors, Tim Schwarz named to the Second Team, and Vebjørn Madshus receiving Honorable Mention recognition. Jonathan Sald also earned the prestigious CCAA Elite 13 Award, recognizing the student-athlete with the highest GPA among competitors at the championship final site.
The accomplishments of this historic campaign provide a strong foundation for the future. From reaching the conference semifinals to earning individual accolades and establishing themselves in their first season of CCAA competition, the Oaks have plenty to build on as they look ahead to the next chapter of Menlo Men's Soccer.
