Oct. 13, 2015
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State men's soccer team, coming off its best offensive performance in years, a 6-0 drubbing of Grand Canyon last Sunday, embarks on its most challenging road trip of the year. The Spartans visit a pair of Western Athletic Conference (WAC) teams ranked in the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA) West Region poll in No. 3 Utah Valley on Friday night and finishes the weekend on Sunday at No. 2 Seattle U. Seattle U is also ranked 24th in the nation by the NSCAA.
San Jose State Spartans (4-7-0, 2-1-0 WAC)
at
Utah Valley Wolverines (10-3-0, 3-1-0 WAC)
Friday, October 16, 2015, 6:30 p.m. (PT)
Clyde Field, Orem, Utah
Streaming video and live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
at
No. 24 Seattle University Redhawks (10-3-0, 3-1-0 WAC)
Sunday, October 18, 2015, 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Championship Field, Seattle, Wash.
Streaming video and live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans head out on the road for a pair of conference matches this week. The team visits Utah Valley, ranked No. 3 in the NSCAA West Region rankings, and Seattle U, 24th in the nation and No. 2 in the NSCAA West Region rankings. The Spartans are 4-7-0 on the year, 2-1-0 in the WAC and won their first conference road game, 2-1at Incarnate Word.
Rory Knibbs, one of three field players to start every match in 2015, leads the team in virtually every offensive category including shots (32), shots on goal (19), goals (8), game winners (4) and penalty kicks (2-for-2). Newcomer Alex Alcaraz tops the side with four assists. Keeper Emmanuel Espinoza has played all but 45 minutes this season letting in 15 of the 62 shots that have reached his line. His goals against average is 1.41 and he has a save percentage of .762.
Head Coach Simon Tobin is in his second season leading the Spartans. His SJSU record is currently 9-17-2 and his career record, in 28 seasons, is 314-206-56.
ABOUT UTAH VALLEY
The Wolverines enter the week with a 10-3-0 overall record, 3-1-0 in conference action and tied with Seattle U at the top of the WAC table. Utah Valley entered last week ranked 23rd in the nation, but split a pair of road games: defeating UTRGV 1-0 before falling to Houston Baptist 2-1. They have fallen out of the top-25 this week.
Utah Valley has four players who have scored four goals this year. Aaron Meyer leads the team with 14 points. He has a team leading six assists to go along with his four tallies. Derek Wilcox has gotten the call in the last three games. His 0.60 goals against average is tops in the WAC and a save percentage of .786 is good for fourth in the league. His record is 3-2-0 and each of his wins has been a shutout.
Head Coach Greg Maas is in his second season leading the Utah Valley program. He brought a 9-7-2 career-record into 2015.
THE SERIES
Friday's meeting will be the second ever between these two programs and the first in Orem, Utah. Last year the Wolverines came to Spartan Soccer Field and defeated the SJSU 1-0.
ABOUT #24 SEATTLE U
The Redhawks enter the week ranked 24th in the nation with a 10-3-0 record and are 3-1-0 in WAC play. Last week, with the No. 19 ranking, they split a pair of road games falling to Houston Baptist 3-1 before beating UTRGV 2-1. The side is 6-1-0 at home and has defeated the likes of then No. 10 Washington on Championship Field this year. Entering the weekend's play, the Redhawks are tied with Utah Valley at the top of the WAC table with 9 points.
Of the team's 28 goals this year, 15 have come from two players. Senior striker Hamza Haddadi leads the team with eight goals and Michael Roberts, also a senior striker, has tallied seven. Roberts is a dual threat, posting a team-high four assists. Senior keeper Shane Haworth has played all but 18 minutes of the sides 1,170 this year. His goals against average of 0.70 is the second lowest in the WAC and his .791 save percentage ranks third in the league. He has posted five shutouts and boasts a 10-3-0 record.
Head coach Pete Fewing is in his 22nd year leading the Seattle University program. He brought a 245-152-34 career-record into the 2015 season.
Before the Redhawks and Spartans meet on Sunday, Seattle U hosts CSU Bakersfield on Friday.
THE SERIES
This will be the 16th meeting between the Spartans and Redhawks, with SJSU holding an 8-4-3 advantage in the all-time series. In games contested on the Seattle U home field the Spartans are 2-1-2.