Seattle University at UNLV - Friday, October 5, 2012 - Las Vegas, Nevada - 7:00 p.m.Seattle University at CSU Bakersfield - Sunday, October 7, 2012 - Bakersfield, California - 1:00 p.m.
HITTING THE ROAD: For the first time since the beginning of September, the Seattle University men's soccer team leaves its hometown for a soccer match, first heading to Las Vegas, Nev., to face the UNLV Rebels before making the trip to Bakersfield, Calif., for a match against the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners. After playing San Jose State to a scoreless tie in the conference opener, the Redhawks hope to perform well on the road as they continue their pursuit of a berth into the MPSF Tournament. Live stats will be available for both matches, and live video is also available for a fee on Friday night during the UNLV match.
THE SAN JOSE STATE MATCH: In the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opener for both teams, Seattle University and San Jose State each had scoring chances, but neither team was able to convert as the match ended in a 0-0 tie last Sunday afternoon at Championship Field. Junior goalkeeper Jake Feener, returning to the starting lineup after missing the previous two matches with a knee injury, made a career-high 11 saves in notching his second shutout of the season. Hamza Haddadi led the Redhawks with five total shots, including two shots on goal. After San Jose State outshot Seattle U in the first half, 12-9, the Redhawks started challenging Spartan goalie Michael Schwinn in the second half. Shots by Travis Heim and Haddadi were on frame, but stopped by the Spartan goalie. As the half moved along, Feener stepped up and made four saves in a 12-minute span, three of them on shots taken by Jonathan Salceda that seemed destined to break the scoreless tie. The second half concluded with the teams exchanging solid scoring chances. First, with about four minutes left in regulation, Dylan Murphy challenged Feener with a shot, but the junior once again made the save. Just 21 seconds later, Marshall Kosaka had a chance at a game-winning goal for the second straight home match, but his opportunity was stopped by Schwinn. Seattle U took possession at the start of the first overtime period and worked the ball down the field to Miguel Gonzalez, whose attempt slid just past the right post. Gonzalez also had a scoring chance right at the end of the first overtime session, but once again the ball rolled just outside the post, keeping the score tied heading into the second overtime period. Except for a Kosaka shot that went wide, neither team was credited with a shot attempt in the final 10 minutes.
NCAA RANKINGS: Redhawk goalie Jake Feener is third in the country in saves per game, averaging 6.5 saves per match.
SCOUTING UNLV: The Rebels enter Friday's match with a 2-8-1 overall record, including a 0-1-0 record in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation after losing to CSU Bakersfield last Saturday, 5-1. Both UNLV victories have come at home this season, but the Rebels are 0-3-1 in matches that go into overtime. Nick Marshall is the team's leading scorer, collecting five goals, including two game-winning goals, and three assists for 13 total points so far this season. Julian Portugal has scored three goals, all on penalty kicks, while Rodrigo Fuentes also has three goals this year. Salvador Bernal and Robert Garcia join Marshall as the team leaders in assists with three apiece. Joe Vitale has played every second in net for the Rebels, posting a 2.08 GAA and a .647 save percentage.
SEATTLE U VS. UNLV: This will be the fourth meeting all-time between Seattle University and UNLV, with the Redhawks holding a 2-1 series edge. All three matches have been won by the road team. On Oct. 18, 2009, a goal by Ian Walsh with 47 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Redhawks a 2-1 victory in Las Vegas. On Oct. 24, 2010, also in Las Vegas, second half goals by Kevin Cook and Kyle Peterman, along with a shutout by Jake Feener, allowed Seattle U to earn a 2-0 victory. UNLV traveled to Seattle U for the first time Oct. 23, 2011. Salvador Bernal scored just 1:18 into the contest, but Brandon Hamer tied the match in the 31st minute. Nick Marshall scored with 5:13 left in the first half, and Zach Kupfer tallied his own goal a minute into the second half to give the Rebels a 3-1 lead. Elliot Richards scored in the 63rd minute to cut the UNLV lead in half, but the Rebels held on for a 3-2 victory.
SCOUTING CSU BAKERSFIELD: The Roadrunners enter the weekend with a 4-1-4 overall record, including a 1-0-0 record in MPSF play after defeating UNLV last weekend, 5-1. CSU Bakersfield has won four of its last five matches and bring an eight-match unbeaten streak into Friday's match against San Jose State. Gyasi Zardes leads the team in scoring with four goals and five assists for 13 total points. Kory Kindle has scored three goals so far this season, while Lucas Dall'Orso, the current MPSF Player of the Week, has collected two goals and four assists for eight total points. Eric Shannon has been the goalie for the Roadrunners throughout the season, posting a 0.61 GAA and a .872 save percentage. Shannon is ninth in the country in save percentage and 15th in goals against average.
SEATTLE U VS. CSU BAKERSFIELD: In a series that dates back to 2001, when both schools competed at the NCAA Division II level, this will be the 14th meeting all-time between the Redhawks and the Roadrunners, with Seattle U holding an 8-5 series lead. Seattle U won five of the six meetings from 2001 to 2005, when both teams were in Division II. The series resumed in 2008, and CSU Bakersfield has won four of the seven meetings over the past four seasons. Last season the Roadrunners swept the season series, first winning on their home field, 3-0, on Oct. 2, 2011. In the rematch at Championship Field Nov. 5, 2011, CSU Bakersfield scored the first two goals before Seattle U responded with three straight goals. Ernesto Hinojosa tied the match with 6:53 left in regulation on a penalty kick, and Richard Menjivar scored with just 2:28 remaining in the second overtime period to give the Roadrunners a 4-3 victory. Seattle U is 4-2 on CSU Bakersfield's home field.