Oct. 6, 2015
San Jose, Calif. - Following a victory in its first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) match of 2015, the San José State men's soccer team returns to Spartan Soccer Field to host a pair of league matches this weekend against regionally ranked opponents. On Friday, October 9, at 3:00 p.m., the Spartans take on the No. 5 UNLV Rebels and on Sunday, October 11, at 1:00 p.m., they host the No. 8 Grand Canyon University Antelopes. Both games will be contested on Spartan Soccer Field, where SJSU has not suffered a defeat this year.
San Jose State Spartans (3-6-0, 1-0-0 WAC)
vs.
UNLV Rebels (7-3-0, 1-1-0 WAC)
Friday, October 9, 2015, 3:00 p.m.
Spartan Soccer Field, San Jose, Calif.
Live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
vs.
Grand Canyon University (6-3-0, 2-0-0 WAC)
Sunday, October 11, 2015, 1:00 p.m.
Spartan Soccer Field, San Jose, Calif.
Live stats at www.sjsuspartans.com
ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE
The Spartans defeated the University of Incarnate Word 2-1 on Sunday to take its conference opener for the first time since a 2-1 victory over Sacramento State in 2009. SJSU returns to Spartans Soccer Field this weekend after a meeting with Santa Clara in Spartans Stadium last Thursday evening.
Rory Knibbs, one of three field players to start every match in 2015 (Alex Alcazar and Eddie Saydee), leads the team in virtually every offensive category including shots (27), shots on goal (15), goals (6), game winners (3) and penalty kicks (2-for-2). Newcomer Alcaraz tops the side with three assists. Freshman Zach Penner and junior Kyler McLaughlin have each scored a goal. Keeper Emmanuel Espinoza has played all but 45 minutes this year, letting in 14 of the 53 shots that have reached his line. His goals against average is 1.62 and he has a save percentage of .736.
Defensively, the team's saves per game average of 4.44 is 44th best in the nation and offensively, its shots on goal per game average of 5.44 is 80th in the country. Individually, Knibbs is 12th in game winners (3), 21st in goals per game and total goals (0.67 & 6), 32nd in shots on goal per game (1.67), 48th in points per game (1.33) and 53rd in total points (12). Alcaraz ranks 87th in total assists (3). Espinoza ranks 33rd in total saves (39), 37th in saves per game (4.33) and 91st in save percentage (0.736).
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 UNLV
The Rebels enter the week with a 7-3-0 record, 1-1-0 in WAC play. UNLV had a seven-game winning streak broken on Sunday in a 1-0 WAC loss to Texas-Rio Grande Valley. In the run they outscored their opponents 17-6. UNLV is currently ranked fifth in the NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's West Regional Poll.
Danny Musovski has scored a third of the team's 18 goals this year and has assisted on two others. Four other Rebels have tallied two goals, including the side's leader in assists, Kevin Partida, who has three entering this week. UNLV has played four keepers this year, but the vast majority of the time has gone to Richard Garness. He has logged 720 minutes with a 1.12 goals against average and a save percentage of .654. His record is 5-3-0 and he has two shutouts.
Head Coach Rich Ryerson is in his sixth season leading his alma mater and brought a 36-54-8 record, all at UNLV, into 2015.
THE SERIES
Thursday's meeting will be the 43rd since 1984, with the Spartans trailing 13-23-6 in the series. In games played on the Spartans home field, UNLV has a 12-5-3 advantage, but the Rebels went 8-0-2 in the first 10 games. Since then SJSU had enjoyed a 5-4-1 record including a 1-0 victory in 2013, the last time these two met in San Jose.
ABOUT GRAND CANYON
The Antelopes enter the week with a 6-3-0 record, 2-0-0 in conference action and will play at CSU Bakersfield on Friday before its matchup with the Spartans. Last week, GCU swept its opening two conference games, sits atop the WAC table and is currently ranked eighth in the NSCAA NCAA Division I Men's West Regional Poll.
Alberto Garcia Sanchez has provided the majority of the team's offense tallying six goals and assisting on three others. The remainder of the side has combined for seven goals. Keeper Kendyl Day has started eight of the team's nine games and has a goals against average of 1.36 with a .756 save percentage. His record is 5-3-0 and he has one shutout.
Head coach Schellas Hyndman is in his first year leading the Grand Canyon program. In 24 years as a collegiate head coach, entering 2015, he has 466-122-49 record.
THE SERIES
This will be the third meeting between these two schools. The Spartans have taken the first two games by 3-1 at home in 2013 and 2-1 at GCU in 2014.