Oct. 28, 2015
San Jose, Calif. - The San José State men's soccer team, tied for fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) table, continues its push for a WAC Tournament bid this weekend playing at UT-Rio Grande Valley and Houston Baptist.
San José State Spartans (5-9-1, 3-3-1 WAC)
at
UT-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (4-10-1, 1-6-0 WAC)
Friday, October 30, 2015, 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Soccer and Track & Field Complex, Edinburg, Texas
Streaming video and live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
at
Houston Baptist Huskies (7-7-1, 3-3-1 WAC)
Sunday, November 1, 2015, 11:00 a.m. (PT)
Sorrels Field, Houston, Texas
Live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
CRITICAL WEEKEND FOR THE SPARTANS…AGAIN
As San José State continues to push toward a WAC Tournament bid, each game and its points are critical. Last weekend, the Spartans secured four points on Spartan Soccer Field by defeating UMKC 2-0 and then earning a 1-1 draw against Air Force.
With the top six teams in the table earning bids to the conference tournament, SJSU with 10 points, is currently tied in fifth place with Houston Baptist. The team sits three points ahead of Air Force who are currently outside looking in for the last spot in the tournament. SJSU controls its own destiny with three games left in the regular season.
ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans hit the road for their final regular season road trip this weekend. In road games this year, SJSU is 1-7-0. Its lone victory came at Incarnate Word to open the conference slate.
Rory Knibbs, one of two field players to start every match in 2015, leads the team in virtually every offensive category including shots (48), shots on goal (24), goals (9), game winners (4) and penalty kicks (2-for-3). First-year Spartan Alex Alcaraz tops the side with four assists. Junior Jonathan Colunga (3 goals) Freshman Zach Penner (2) and junior Kyler McLaughlin (2) are the other Spartans who have found the back of the net multiple times. Keeper Felix Petermann has started the last three games, appeared in the last four, and has a goals against average of 0.90. His save percentage is .765 and with one shutout, has posted a record of 1-3-1.
Head Coach Simon Tobin is in his second season leading the Spartans. Entering the 2015 season, his career record, in 28 seasons, was 311-200-56.
ABOUT UTRGV
The Vaqueros with three points, enters the week with a 4-10-1 overall record, 1-6-0 in conference action and are at the bottom of the WAC table. Last week, UTRGV lost its fifth straight WAC match, a 0-1 decision at Incarnate Word.
UT-Rio Grande Valley has spread its 15 goals among 12 players. Isidro Martinez is one of four players who have scored two goals and leads the side with nine points (2G, 5A). His five assists also lead the side. Leo Castillo has played all (1285:18) but 90 minutes in goal for the Vaqueros this year. His goals against average is 1.40 and save percentage is .785. Castillo's record is 3-10-1 and he has two shutouts.
Head Coach Paul Leese is in his first season leading the UTRGV program. He brought a 58-24-12 career record, all at the Division II level, into 2015.
THE SERIES
This will be the first meeting on a soccer pitch between these two schools.
ABOUT HOUSTON BABTIST
The Huskies enter the week in a tie with the Spartans for fifth place in the WAC table. HBU is 7-7-1 overall, and with 10 points is 3-3-1 in WAC play. Last week they split a pair of road matches winning in double overtime, 2-1, at Air Force and then falling at Incarnate Word 1-3.
Marcelo Acuna leads the team with eight goals and had assisted on three others for a total of 19 points. Marc-Anthone has a team-high four assists. The Huskies have split time between two keepers. Chance Pope leads the pair with 731 minutes, a 1.35 goals against average and a .761 save percentage. He has posted one shutout and has a record of 6-2-1.
Head coach Steve Jones is in his 10th year leading the Houston Baptist program. He brought a 62-73-15 record at HBU into the 2015 season.
Before Houston Baptist and the Spartans meet on Sunday, they host CSU Bakersfield on Friday.
THE SERIES
This will be the sixth meeting between the Spartans and Huskies, with SJSU holding a negligible 3-2-0 advantage in the all-time series. In games contested on HBU's home field, SJSU is 1-1-0.