By Alex Diaz (@DiazOnSports) – Cal Poly goalkeeper Nicky McCune walks solemnly back to his post after SJSU scores (Photo by Taylor Cowhey – Spear Photographer)
For most strikers, Cal Poly’s Nicky McCune is a brick wall in gloves. During the second half of the match on thursday at Spartan Soccer Complex, San Jose State found the cracks and slipped two shots through.
McCune ranked No. 10 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer and is regarded as one of the top shot-stoppers in Division I. In 2024, he finished third in the NCAA with a 0.63 goals-against average, ranked fourth nationally with an .833 save percentage, and tied for ninth in shutouts with eight.
His consistency earned him Big West Goalkeeper of the Year, First-Team All-Big West, and four Defensive Player of the Week honors. As well, he landed on the Hermann Trophy Watch List.
Against that resume, SJSU’s finish wasn’t just another pair of goals; it was a statement.
Spartans junior midfielder Angel Fernandez and sophomore forward Arnold Matshazi struck twice, finding the rare cracks in McCune’s wall, while keeping the Mustangs scoreless on the other end.
“He’s just another keeper,” Fernandez said. “We don’t really pay attention to the stats; we just play the game.”
This match made SJSU’s performance stand out. Against a goalkeeper who rarely looks human, the Spartans made him look vulnerable and walked away with the shutout win.
“We’re happy with it but never satisfied,” Matshazi said. “We have things to work on, and it’s good to start the season with a win to build on it.”
