California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Women's Soccer

Jay Mason enters his ninth season (tenth year) as the head coach of the Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer program in 2025. In 2024, Mason led the Broncos to its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship, finishing with a program-best 22-1-2 record and a No. 1 national ranking. The Broncos began the season by defeating then-No. 1 Point Loma, marking their first-ever victory over a top-ranked team. They won both the CCAA regular-season and tournament titles before advancing through the NCAA postseason, including an overtime win over Point Loma in the West Region final and a victory against No. 1 Colorado School of Mines in the Elite Eight. The Broncos then defeated Franklin Pierce in the semifinals and Minnesota State in the championship match to secure the national title. Mason’s leadership earned him CCAA Coach of the Year, West Region Coach of the Year, and United Soccer Coaches National Coach of the Year honors. Mason led the Broncos to their first ever CCAA regular season title in 2023, finishing with a 11-5-3 overall record while going 8-2-1 in conference. The Broncos had seven All-CCAA honorees, including four United Soccer Coaches All-West Region players. The team made the CCAA Tournament finals for the first time since 2001, after defeating Cal Poly Humboldt in the CCAA Tournament Semifinals by a score of 1-0. Mason earned his second career CCAA Coach of the Year Award, having also won in 2019.  The 2021 season saw the team finish tied for seventh in the CCAA with records of 8-6-3 overall and 4-4-3 in the CCAA. The team had a strong awards showing, placing six student-athletes on All-CCAA teams. Taylor Scott wrapped up a stellar career with the Broncos, scoring five goals and adding five assists. For her career, she finished with 19 goals and 11 assists. Ten of her 19 goals were game-winners, which is tied for third all-time in CPP women's soccer history in that category. Williams will also see her name in the record book for years to come, as she posted the third-best single-season goals against average in program history this year with a 0.58. She already has the program record for best single-season GAA (0.53) which was set in 2019. Williams will also leave CPP as the record holder for best career goals against average of 0.63, and tallied the third-most shutouts in program history with 22. Barrow led the Broncos in scoring this year with six goals, adding one assist in her final collegiate season. Amaro, Carthan and Faber were instrumental on defense in CPP having the fourth-best goals against average in the CCAA this year at 0.67.   The 2019 campaign saw the team finish third in the CCAA with an overall record of 13-5-3 and an impressive 8-1-3 in the CCAA. Jay was named CCAA Coach of the Year in the CCAA for the 2019 season followed by him and his staff being named the 2019 NCAA Division II West Region Women's Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches organization.   The Broncos qualified for the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Tournament for just the fifth time in program history, and for the first time since 2014, snagging an at-large bid and a No. 4 seed in the West Region. The program also set a new record for lowest goals against average for a season, posting a 0.55 GAA this year, besting the previous record of 0.58 set back in 2001. Goalkeeper Sydney Williams also set the record for lowest individual goals against average for a season with a 0.52 GAA, topping the 2001 record of 0.57 set by Katie Kreps.   Nine CPP women's soccer student-athletes earned All-CCAA awards this season, matching the program record for most in one season, and the most since 2001.  All nine Broncos on this year's All-CCAA Team were also first-time selections.  Three Broncos -- Taylor Scott, Ambria Pogue and Taylor Rasmussen -- were also named to the 2019 D2 CCA All-West Region squad two weeks ago. The Broncos very own Taylor Scott finished as the CCAA top scorer followed by Allyssa Larkin grabbing the top points for the conference in her sophomore season. The accolades did not stop there for this group, as they bested their 2018 top GPA in the department of 3.29 with a 3.59 setting a new CPP Athletic Department term GPA for any program in history. Women's soccer produced a 3.59 in the classroom this Spring, breaking the all-time term GPA record for any sport in the department's history. The team continued to rack up the accolades with 10 student athletes being selected by the CCAA for the ALL Academic Awards. Prior to arriving at Cal Poly Pomona, Mason served as the top assistant for the St. Edward's University women's soccer team. While on staff, he helped lead the program to an overall record of 160-33-13. His 10-year tenure included six conference championships and nine NCAA Division II tournament appearances. His time at St. Edward's was extremely successful as the Hilltoppers produced 17 All-Americans, 53 All-Region honorees, nine Heartland Conference Players of the Year, 73 All-Conference honorees, and a team grade point average of 3.37. Mason's career has taken him through many aspects of the professional world. While coaching at St. Edward's, he was also a member of the faculty, teaching a number of Kinesiology classes. He has also served as the director of Goalkeeping/South DOC/Coach of the Dallas Texans Austin Division. Mason also served as the Head Goalkeeper Trainer of the Austin Capitals. Before his time with the Capitals he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Incarnate Word, during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He helped coach both the men's and women's soccer team for the Cardinals. Prior to that, he served as the men's head coach at St. Mary's Hall for a couple seasons where the team qualified for the Division I playoffs for the first time in 10 years. As a player, Mason had a solid amount of experience and earned a number of accolades. He was selected as a member of the U18 Canadian National Team pool from 1996-97. He played for the College of Charleston, a Division I program in the Southern Conference, was named to the South Carolina State Team, and played in the U23 Donnelly Cup. After that, Mason spent a few seasons playing for the St. Catharine's Roma Wolves, a member of the CSL (Canadian Professional Soccer League) His career then took him to the UIW where he helped lead the team to the NCAA Sweet 16 twice and earn the No. 3 national ranking with the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA). His playing career finished with a couple stints in the professional realm as he played for the Austin Posse, was a trial player for the Minnesota Thunder, and was a member of the South Texas ODP. Mason's accomplishments were many as he was a four-year letter winner at Charleston and Incarnate Word. He was named the Runner-Up Male Athlete of the Year in the same season he was named the Heartland Conference Goalkeeper of the year and earned a spot on the All-Conference First team. He also earned the Runner-Up Student Athlete of the Year at UIW where he graduated summa cum laude. After graduating from University of Incarnate Word with his B.S. in Physical Education in 2004, Mason continued on to earn his Master's Degree in Kinesiology focusing on Exercise Science in 2006. Mason Through the Years   SEASON INSTITUTION OVERALL CONF PLACE 2016 Cal Poly Pomona 7-7-3 6-4-2 4th 2017 Cal Poly Pomona 10-6-2 6-4-2 6th 2018 Cal Poly Pomona 5-9-4 1-7-4 13th 2019 Cal Poly Pomona 13-5-3 8-1-3 3rd 2020 Cal Poly Pomona COVID-19 2021 Cal Poly Pomona 8-6-3 4-4-3 t-7th 2022 Cal Poly Pomona 6-9-3 5-4-2 t-5th 2023 Cal Poly Pomona 11-5-3 8-2-1 1st 2024 Cal Poly Pomona 22-1-2 8-1-2 1st OVERALL (8 seasons) 82-48-23 (.611) 46-27-19 (.603)    NCAA Division II Tournament Appearance  NCAA Division II Champions  

Dan Richards enters his tenth season (11th year) as an assistant women's soccer coach for Cal Poly Pomona in 2025. Richards was a key contributor to the Broncos’ historic 2024 campaign, helping lead the team to a dominant 22-1-2 record—the highest winning percentage (.920) in program history. Under his guidance, the Broncos clinched the CCAA regular-season title, captured their second-ever CCAA Tournament Championship, secured the NCAA West Region title, and of course the NCAA Division II National Title. The team also set program records for most wins (22), most goals scored (58), and most shutouts (14). Richards’ focus on player development and team performance earned him a spot on the United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Staff of the Year. Richards helped lead the Broncos to their first ever CCAA regular season title in 2023, finishing with a 11-5-3 overall record while going 8-2-1 in conference. The Broncos had seven All-CCAA honorees, including four United Soccer Coaches All-West Region players. The team made the CCAA Tournament finals for the first time since 2001, after defeating Cal Poly Humboldt in the CCAA Tournament Semifinals by a score of 1-0. Richards spent the first four seasons at CPP as a program associate from 2015-18 before being elevated to a full-time assistant coach ahead of the 2019 season. In his first season as a full-time member of staff, Coach Richards was part of the Broncos coaching line-up who were named the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Hailing from London, England, Richards earned a bachelor's degree with honors in 2005 from the University of Wolverhampton in Sports Studies. After graduating from Wolverhampton, Richards moved to the United States and has continued to progress though the youth coaching ranks to help produce and develop elite level soccer players, including those that have represented their respective countries at the Youth National and Full National team levels. Prior to his full-time appointment at CPP, Coach Richards also served as the Head Varsity Boys Soccer Coach and Program Director at Laguna Beach High School from 2010-2019. Richards is an established figure in the club soccer world, having worked with nationally recognized programs at the ECNL, ECRL, GA and USSDA levels, attending some of the most prestigious tournaments and showcases in the country. Richards holds national coaching licenses from various organizations and governing bodies including a US Soccer Federation ‘A’ License, a Premier Diploma from the United Soccer Coaches organization, a National Goalkeeping Diploma, National Youth Diplomas from Coerver Coaching, and a Director of Coaching Diploma from United Soccer Coaches. Coach Richards is also well-versed in soccer analytics and scouting, having utilized multiple platforms, software and technologies to help enhance individual player and team performance, and having worked as a consultant to help produce AI based soccer analysis solutions. Coach Richards also holds certifications from the PFSA (Professional Football Scouts Association) as well as licenses and diplomas related to opposition, performance and recruitment analysis.