PUEBLO, Colo. (December 5, 2023) - After winning the NCAA South Central Region for a second year in a row, the Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer team will embark on its journey to through the Final Four and will take on No. 5 Florida Tech on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, NC.

Planning to Make the Trip?
Purchase tickets ahead of time and avoid the lines on Thursday. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Setting the Stage
No. 16 CSU Pueblo enters the week on a seven-match win streak and five of those wins came on the road and includes five straight wins over ranked opponents. The Pack were seeded third and Florida Tech received the 2-seed. On the other side of the bracket, defending champion-Franklin Pierce earned the top-seed and will take on 4-seeded Lewis.

How They Got Here
The ThunderWolves pulled off a thrilling 4-3 PK shootout victory over No. 4 Cal State LA on Sunday in the South Central Region Final in Wichita Falls, Texas. The teams battled to a 3-3 draw through two overtime periods to send the match to the ultimate penalty shootout.

In the match, Jack Pascoe (Sr., Barry, Wales), Ignatius DeMark (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.) and Giancarlo Pretto (Jr., Lajeado Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil) each found the back of the net to propel the ThunderWolves offense.

Pretto's goal came with the ThunderWolves down 3-2 and just over a minute left in the second half.

In the shootout, Pack freshman Ruben Volkert (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) was called on to step into the net and Volkert made three big saves to clinch the victory.

Gabriel Campora (Sr., Saltillo, Mexico), Kenshin Uneo (Sr., Hyogo, Japan), Noe Ortiz Pena (Sr., Aurora, Colo.) and Aden O'Hara (Jr., Melbourne, Fla.) all were successful in their attempts.

It was the Pack's sixth attempt by O'Hara that clinched when his shot went low and inside the right post for the win.

Postseason Honors
CSU Pueblo has been rewarded for their efforts through the regular season and had five players chosen All-Region selections. Shjon Andrews (Sr., Longmont, Colo.) and Campora both were named to the First Team for a second year in a row, while Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) earned his first All-Region First Team selection.

Uneo and Dylan Zavatini (Jr.,. Santa Catarina, Brazil) both were named to the Second Team.

Last month, Andrews, Uneo and Zavatini received recognition for their prowess on the pitch and in the classroom and were selected D2CCA Academic All-District picks.

Opponent Capsule  
Florida Tech enters the week ranked No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll and received the 2-seed at the Final Four. In their route to the Final Four, the Panthers beat Lynn (2-1), West Florida on PKs, and upset 1-seed Limestone 3-2 in the Regional Championship.

How to Follow the Pack

Thursday, December 7, 2023: #16 (3-seed) CSU-Pueblo at #5 (2-seed) Florida Tech Panthers 6 PM (MT) (Stats/Video)

Twitter - @gothunderwolves

Opponent Capsule

Florida Tech Panthers

Record: 13-2-5

Statistical Leaders:

  Points: 22 - Fabio Amaral, Ettore Casadei

  Goals: 10 - Amaral

  Assists: 6 - Jacopo Ghezzi, Osvaldo Santana

  Shots: 49 - Amaral

  Goalkeeper Saves: 51 - Iker Bastida

Last game played: December 2 – Won, 3-2 vs. 1-seed Limestone

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