Colorado State University Pueblo

MATTHEWS, N.C. (December 12, 2024) - The No. 4 seed Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer team, for a third year in a row reached the NCAA National Semifinal match and saw its season come to an end after falling 3-2 against the top-seed University of Charleston on Thursday at the Sportsplex at Matthews.

CSU Pueblo ends its season with a 17-4-3 record.

In the game for the ThunderWolves, Jose Bustamante (Jr., Davie, Fla.) and Joey Joiner (Sr., Westminster, Colo.) both scored goals.

In the game, CSU Pueblo out shot the Golden Eagles 14-9 and the Pack offense recoded eight corners, majority came in the second half against three by Charleston.

Competing on the big stage again, the Pack came out of the gate with energy and the first to the ball in several instances.

Charleston recorded the first shot of the game and the ThunderWolves earned the first corner of the contest in the 9th minute and a foul against the Pack cleared any scoring chance.

The Golden Eagles earned their first corner and resulted in another shot attempt that went out right of the net before the ThunderWolves possessed the ball and while inside the attacking zone of Charleston, the ball went out of bounds and was called a ThunderWolves ball.

On the throw in and as he has done all season, Ignatius DeMark (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.) let one fly from the near side to the far end of the box and Bustamante was the lone player who was able to get enough on the ball and send it inside the left post for the early one goal lead.

Charlotte sent another shot out right of the net before getting ball back and they would score the equalizer in the 25th minute, tying the game at 1-1 with twenty minutes to play in the first half.

At the break and knotted at one apiece, Charleston led 4-1 in shots and CSU Pueblo recorded two corners against one from Charleston.

Starting the second half, and after coming on as a substitute in the first period, Joiner started the period on the pitch and less than two minutes into the half, Joiner first fired a shot on goal that was saved.

Joiner was right there for the rebound and scored an unassisted goal and put the Pack ahead 2-1 with his third goal of the year.

After taking the lead once again, CSU Pueblo kept the ball in the attacking zone and Tobi Osifodunrin (Sr., Brighton, Colo.) fired his first and only shot of the game which gave the ThunderWolves another corner.

The attempt was successfully cleared by Charleston and on the counter, they earned a corner kick of their own which was defended well by the Pack.

The intensity and physicality of the game continued to increase as the period progressed and in the 56th minute and with the Golden Eagles inside the penalty box, a foul was called against the ThunderWolves, awarding Charleston a penalty kick which was successful, once again tying the contest.

The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the game, 3-2 in the 65th minute on a goal from the striker who was able to get it past the ThunderWolves defense.

A foul against Charleston came in the 73rd minute, resulted in a direct red card issued against UC goalkeeper Konstantinos Parisis and as a result, they had to play one-man down for the rest of the contest.

Trailing by one and with about 18 minutes left in regulation, the ThunderWolves offense was sparked with energy and they went on the attack.

Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) had his first and only chance at the net and was saved by new Golden Eagles goalkeeper Nicolai Gundersen.

The Pack earned back-to-back corners and in the second try, Shjon Andrews (Gr., Longmont, Colo.) had his header shot go wide of the net.

The Pack earned another corner in the 81st minute and Giancarlo Pretto (Sr., Lajeado Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil) saw his attempt get hauled in by Gundersen.

The ThunderWolves had four more shots including one SOG over the final four minutes of play before the final horn sounded, ending the season for the Pack.

At the net for the Pack, Ryan Nun (So., Broomfield, Colo.) allowed three goals and made no saves against nine shots by UC.

CSU Pueblo will revamp its roster for next season as more than ten ThunderWolves played in their final games of their collegiate careers.