FOLLOWING THE LEADERS: After picking up the first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation victory last weekend, the Seattle University men's soccer team finds itself in the middle of the league race. Four of the five remaining conference matches take place at Championship Field, beginning this weekend with Sacramento State and San Jose State, two of the three teams presently at 2-0 in the league, coming north to face the Redhawks.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: The Hornets come into Friday's match with a 6-5-1 overall record, including a 2-0 record in MPSF play. Last weekend, Sacramento State defeated Air Force, 2-0, and Denver, 2-1, at home. The Hornets were undefeated in their first four matches, lost five of the next six, and then swept their home matches last weekend. Max Alvarez leads the team with eight goals and 16 total points, while Ernesto Carranza has contributed three goals and four assists for ten total points. David Norton has also scored three goals this season, and Fernando Cabadas leads the way with five assists for the Hornets. Bryan Oliver has been the starting goalie in Sacramento State's last three matches, compiling a 2-1 record with a 1.00 goals against average, a .750 save percentage, and one shutout.
SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: The Spartans enter the weekend with a 7-6-1 overall record, including a 2-0 league record. San Jose State defeated Air Force and Denver by identical 1-0 scores, but the two matches were completely different. Last Friday against Denver, Justin Castro scored with 37 seconds remaining in the second overtime for the Spartan victory. Two days later, Dan Addiego scored just 6:25 into the match, and San Jose State held Air Force at bay the rest of the way. Castro and Nick Cukar have each scored four goals for the Spartans, with Castro also notching two assists for a team-high ten total points. The Oscars, Yniguez and Monjaras, have each scored three goals, and Ricky Dorrego has added two goals and a team-high four assists. Current co-Player of the Week Jonathan Lester has posted a 7-4-1 record with a 0.71 goals against average, a .775 save percentage, and six shutouts.