San Diego State Stuns California Baptist 2-1
San Diego State scored twice in two minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit and advance in the Pac-12 men's soccer tournament.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Soccer
San Diego State defeated California Baptist University 2-1 in the Pac-12 Conference men's soccer semifinals on Saturday, November 8, 2026. California Baptist led 1-0 with 20 minutes remaining before San Diego State scored twice in two minutes to take the lead.
Why it matters
The loss was California Baptist's first in seven matches and dented its hopes of an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. It also marks a second consecutive conference semifinal exit for the Lancers.
California Baptist finished the regular season 12-4-2 and fell from 34th to approximately 45th in the rankings after the loss. San Diego State finished 4-7-9 overall and 2-0-5 in conference play, while the status of California Baptist's at-large bid remains unsettled until the updated RPI is released.
The players
California Baptist University
A private Christian university in Riverside, California, which in its first Pac-12 season finished second to Oregon State in the conference standings.
San Diego State University
A public university in San Diego whose men's soccer program advanced to the Pac-12 championship match after winning the semifinal.
Oregon State University
A public university in Corvallis, Oregon, which won the Pac-12 regular-season title and will face San Diego State in the conference championship.
The details
Nico Coope opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after a rebound off a save on Liam Jones' cross fell to Blake D'Agostino, who returned it to Coope. Jaxson Hutcheon tied the match in the 47th minute after a short pass by Ulrik Stroem was intercepted near the penalty area, and the rebound set up the goal.
Timeline
Saturday, November 8, 2026: San Diego State defeats California Baptist 2-1 in the Pac-12 semifinals.
Sunday, November 9, 2026: Oregon State defeats UC Riverside 3-1 in the other semifinal, and an updated NCAA Division I men's soccer RPI is released.
Next week: San Diego State faces Oregon State in the Pac-12 championship match.
November 16, 2026: The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled.
Season Trajectory
California Baptist's first Pac-12 season ended with a second-place regular-season finish, but a second straight semifinal exit in a new conference now leaves its postseason future dependent on the NCAA selection process. The loss continues a pattern that began with last year's WAC semifinal defeat to San Jose State.
For California Baptist's fans and anyone tracking the NCAA bracket, the loss means the team's at-large chances now hinge on the updated RPI released Sunday. Fantasy and bracket watchers should note that the Pac-12 title match and the selection show will determine final postseason seeding.
The takeaway
Postseason fortunes in a single-elimination conference tournament can turn on a few minutes, as San Diego State's two goals in two minutes showed. Watching the RPI and selection criteria closely is the best way to gauge how a late-season upset ripples into at-large chances.
What happens next
San Diego State faces Oregon State in the Pac-12 championship match next week, and the NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for November 16, 2026, which will determine whether California Baptist receives an at-large berth.
Further reading
Follow the rest of the conference bracket in our Soccer coverage.
