Aug. 25, 2016
SJSU Game Notes
MATCHES #1-2
San José State (0-0) vs. UC Davis (0-0)
Friday, August 26, 2016, 5:00 p.m. (PT)
Aggie Soccer Field
Davis, Calif.
Live Stats
Live Streaming
San José State (0-0) vs. Pacific (0-0)
Sunday, August 28, 2016, 3:00 p.m. (PT)
SJSU Football Practice Field
San Jose, Calif.
Live Streaming
SUMMER TO REMEMBER:
Over the summer, San José State University hosted national teams from Chile, Jamaica and Argentina, including the world's best player, Lionel Messi, at the SJSU football practice facility. San José State also hosted English Premier League (EPL) power, Arsenal.
The three national teams selected San José State as its practice site for the Copa America Centenario men's soccer tournament, which pitted 16 teams from North, Central and South America in an international regional championship tournament that is only rivaled worldwide in prestige by the European Championship.
Arsenal practiced at San José State as a preparation to play against the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Stars.
TEMPORARY HOME FOR MEN'S SOCCER:
San José State will host its 2016 home matches at the football practice facility located on Stadium Way, next to the Koret Athletic Performance Center. Fans attending home matches should plan to park in the lot on the west side of Seventh Street. There are no bleachers or seats provided, so plan to bring your own lawn chair or blanket and follow on-site directions for seating areas. There is no admission charge for home matches in 2016, with the exception of the September 23 matchup against UC-Riverside at Spartan Stadium.
SEASON OPENER:
Coming off an exhibition loss in its only tune-up for the regular season, the San José State men's soccer team officially kicks off the 2016 season this Friday (Aug. 26) on the road at UC Davis.
SERIES HISTORY WITH UC DAVIS:
The Spartans lead the all-time series 11-8-1 against the Aggies dating back to 1954. San José State won last year's matchup 2-1 in double overtime at home after a four-year break in the series matchup. The Spartans have won 11 of the last 14 meetings with the longest winning streak at five games between 1962 to 1971.
SERIES HISTORY WITH THE PACIFIC TIGERS:
The Spartans have dominated the all-time series 22-2 against the
Tigers dating back to 1954. San José State lost last year's matchup 3-0 in Stockton, getting shutout for the first time by the Tigers. The Spartans won the first 17 games in the series before having the streak snapped in 1981 then won the next five before last year's results.
LIVE VIDEO:
All eight San José State home matches will be streamed live online via the Spartan Digital Network.
Links to view each contest will be available on the men's soccer schedule page at SJSUspartans.com.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!:
Spartan fans can keep up with the latest in SJSU men's soccer by following us on:
Facebook (/sjsuspartansmenssoccer), Twitter (@sjsumsoccer) and Instagram (@sjsumenssoccer),
while the San José State athletics is available on:
Facebook (/sjsuspartans), Twitter (@sjsuathletics) and Instagram (@sjsuspartans).
WAC PRESEASON POLL:
San José State was predicted to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) by a vote of the league's 11 head coaches, who could not vote for their own team. Defending regular season and conference tournament champion, Seattle University collected nine first place votes to take the top spot. Utah Valley earned the remaining two first places to take second.
PLAYING THE BEST:
The Spartans play four teams that made the NCAA tournament last year. They play the defending national champion Stanford on September 10 and Santa Clara on September 28, both on the road. Defending WAC champion and preseason favorites Seattle University (October 6) come to San Jose as will WAC runner-up Utah Valley (October 23).
A QUICK LOOK AT THE SPARTANS:
The Spartans return seven starters and 11 letterwinners from a squad that qualified for the WAC tournament last year. Fourteen newcomers including six transfers with college playing experience compliment the returnees. Three-year letterwinner Rory Knibbs was named captain by Head Coach Simon Tobin. Knibbs tops the team with 56 games started in his Spartan career.
TWO SPARTANS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM:
Rory Knibbs and Jonathan Colunga were named to the preseason All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) team by a vote of the league's 11 head coaches. For Knibbs, it is his third preseason All-WAC honors and the second such honor for Colunga.
Knibbs, a senior forward from London, England, led the team in goals (11), points (23), shots (60), shots on goal (30) and game winners (4) in 2015. His 23 points were the most on the team since 2002. The 11 goals were third most by a WAC player last year and his 23 points were fourth most.
Colunga, a senior midfielder from Lindsay, Calif. led the team in assists (4), and finished second in goals (4), points (12), shots (47) and shots on goal (21).
KNIBBS' CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Three-time All-WAC honoree Rory Knibbs is fifth all-time on the WAC career list with 61 points and third all-time in goals with 28.
His 61 points is good for fifth on the list. He is two points away from tying for fourth all-time.