The University of Portland men’s soccer team opens West Coast Conference play on the road with games at San Diego and Loyola Marymount. The No. 20 (Soccer America) Pilots will play San Diego on Friday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m., then travel up to Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Oct. 3 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff. This weekend begins a new WCC men’s soccer scheduling format, which has all teams playing one another both at home and on the road in 2004.
ABOUT PORTLAND: The Pilots (5-2-0) held the No. 20 spot in this week’s Soccer America national poll, while College Soccer News dropped Portland six spots to No. 28. The Pilots split a pair of neutral site games in Seattle last weekend, defeating a good Akron squad 1-0 on Friday, before relinquishing a second-half lead and falling to UC Irvine by a 3-2 margin on Sunday. Junior forward Patrick Mooney came off the Portland bench on Friday to break a scoreless tie against the Zips, scoring an 84th minute header for his second goal of the season. Pilot sophomore keeper Luis Robles made 10 saves on the day to preserve the shutout. On Sunday, Portland battled from a 1-0 halftime deficit to take a 2-1 second-half lead. Junior All-American Alejandro Salazar scored the first UP goal, then assisted on teammate Bobak Talebi’s first career goal a few minutes later. UC Irvine would equalize in the 74th minute then registered the game-winner nine minutes later to seal the upset victory.
Salazar, the reigning WCC Player of the Year, leads Portland with three goals and three assists. Sophomore forward Chris Sanders also has three goals and an assist. Junior midfielder Miguel Guante has two goals and three assists after shifting forward most of this season from his usual right-back position. Robles has played every minute this season between the pipes, posting a 1.14 goals-against average, with 32 saves and three shutouts.
Director of soccer Bill Irwin returns eight starters and 12 letterwinners from Portland’s 2003 team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Portland finished with a 10-9-1 overall mark and tied for third in the West Coast Conference with a 3-2-1 record. Junior forward Alejandro Salazar, a College Soccer News Preseason first team All-American, was named the 2003 WCC Player of the Year after leading the conference in points with 10 goals and an assist. Irwin is in his second season in a head coaching capacity and has a 13-10-1 overall record.
ABOUT SAN DIEGO: The Toreros (3-3-1) fell 3-0 to Cal State Northridge in their only game last weekend, marking the first loss to a non-ranked opponent for USD this season. The Toreros also have losses against undefeated California (1-0) and then-No. 10 Stanford (2-0) two weeks ago. Last week, the Matadors used an early penalty kick to take the lead and added two more goals in the second half. USD outshot Northridge 16-12 and have outshot every opponent this year. Ryan Guy is the primary offensive threat with two goals and four assists, while Andrew Ehrich has three strikes this season. Lance Friesz is the starting goalie with a 1.12 goals-against average, 21 saves and a pair of shutouts. Head coach Seamus McFadden enters his 26th season guiding the Torero soccer fortunes. Last season he directed USD to a 12-4-4 record, a final national ranking of 19th, and a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Portland defeated the Toreros 4-2 at Merlo Field last year, as Pilot striker Alejandro Salazar recorded a hat trick.
ABOUT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: After falling to Air Force, 2-1, in their home-opener last Wednesday, the Lions (2-3-2) rebounded with a 5-2 win over UC Riverside on Sunday. Armando Melendez scored a goal and assisted on two others, while Diego Souza and Matt Kovar each recorded a goal and an assist in the thumping of Riverside. Melendez leads the Lions with two goals and three assists, while Danny Williams and Tyler Mehl both have two goals on the season. Robert Flores and Shaun Kalnasy have split goalkeeping duties with Flores posting a 1.66 goals-against average in 380 minutes, and Kalnasy a 1.86 GAA in 290 minutes. LMU has played three ranked opponents, losing to Creighton (2-1) and undefeated New Mexico (3-0), before tying then-No. 12 UCLA (0-0) on Sept. 19. Head coach Paul Krumpe enters his seventh season as a head coach in the collegiate ranks and has guided the Lions to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2003 squad finished the season at 12-7-1, earning a top-16 seed in the NCAA College Cup and a first-round bye. LMU dealt UP a 2-0 loss at Merlo Field last season as Melendez and Kovar were the goal-scorers.
PILOTS UNDEFEATED AT HOME AND VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: Portland’s 2-1 win over No. 10 Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at Merlo Field improved the team’s home record to 3-0-0 on the season. The Pilots are also 3-0-0 against ranked opposition. In addition to the UW victory, the Pilots defeated then-24th ranked UAB on the opening weekend as host of the Nike Portland Invitational and No. 30 Akron last Friday in Seattle.
SECOND HALF SCORING: Of Portland’s 14 goals scored this season, nine have come after halftime. The Pilots are out-scoring opponents 8-5 in the second half, and defeated College of Charleston with an overtime goal in the only UP overtime match this season.
TALEBI NETS FIRST GOAL: Sophomore midfielder Bobak Talebi came off the Pilot bench to score his first career goal in UP’s 3-2 loss versus UC Irvine on Sunday in Seattle. Talebi, playing near his hometown of Kirkland, Wash., made the most of his opportunity by scoring in just his second game played this season.
WCC STATISTICAL LEADERS: Junior forward Alejandro Salazar is tied for third place in points (9), goals (3) and assists (3). Chris Sanders is second in shots (24), tied for third in goals (3) and tied for sixth with seven points. Miguel Guante also has seven points and is joined by Heath Pearce in a tie for third place with three assists. Guante, Patrick Mooney and Matthew Dallman all are tied for ninth place with two goals. Sophomore keeper Luis Robles is tied for first in shutouts (3) and second in saves (32). As a team, the Pilots are second in goals (14), tied for second in shutouts (3) and tied for third in goals allowed (8).
SALAZAR, SANDERS REACH MILESTONES: Strikers Alejandro Salazar and Christopher Sanders have both reached milestone numbers for career goals scored. Salazar, a junior from Portland, tallied his 20th career goal when he knocked home the game-winner in overtime against the College of Charleston on Sept. 12. Sanders, a sophomore from Federal Way, Wash., netted his 10th career goal in a Sept. 10 match against South Carolina. Salazar and Sanders are the two top active scorers on the Pilot roster with 48 and 25 points, respectively.
MOVE TO THE MIDFIELD: Miguel Guante, along with fellow junior Heath Pearce, have been shifted from their usual outside back defender positions into the midfield this season. Both have been career starters for the Pilot defense, but encouraged and embraced the role change with Portland’s need for more experienced midfielders. Guante has two goals and three assists already, while Pearce has recorded three assists and was named the South Carolina Classic’s Defensive MVP.
ROBLES CLIMBING KEEPER CHARTS: Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Luis Robles recorded three clean slates this season to crack Portland’s top 10 list for career shutouts. Robles’ eight shutouts place him ninth all-time, while his 1.16 goals-against average is seventh-best on the career charts. Pilot great Kasey Keller (1988-91) tops both lists with 43 shutouts and a 0.64 GAA.
MERLO GETS LIT: The Clive Charles Soccer Complex at the University of Portland officially celebrated the first major renovation with the construction of six lighting structures, permitting night games to be played at Harry A. Merlo Field for the 2004 season and beyond. Merlo Field, considered one of the finest collegiate soccer facilities in the nation, will host a combined 10 night events between the men’s and women’s soccer teams this fall. Portland’s win over Washington on Wednesday was the first of five men’s night contents at Merlo Field in 2004.
SALAZAR SOAKING UP HONORS: Junior Alejandro Salazar has been named to the 25-player M.A.C. Hermann Trophy preseason watch list, in addition to garnering College Soccer News Preseason first team All-America honors. A list of 15 semifinalists will be announced in November, with three finalists selected in early December. The winner will be announced at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis, Mo., on Jan. 7, 2005. Salazar, a Portland native, was the 2003 WCC Player of the Year after claiming conference freshman of the year honors in 2002.
NATIONAL RANKINGS: Portland maintained its No. 20 ranking in the Soccer America poll this week, while dropping six spots to No. 28 according to College Soccer News. The Pilots are receiving votes in the Soccer Times poll, just one slot away from cracking the top 25. In the NSCAA Far West Regional rankings, Portland is No. 6.
STIFF COMPETITION: There are six opponents on Portland’s schedule that participated in the 2003 NCAA Playoffs. WCC foes Santa Clara, San Diego and Loyola Marymount earned spots in the tournament, with Santa Clara advancing to the College Cup. Among Portland’s non-conference opponents, Washington, Akron and California made the tournament field. The Pilots have already beaten three ranked opponents: UAB, Washington and Akron. Two more Portland opponents received recognition in this week’s national polls. Santa Clara was picked No. 4 by Soccer America, while California moved up to No. 3 according to both Soccer Times and College Soccer News.
NEW WCC SCHEDULING FORMAT: The West Coast Conference has adopted a double round robin format during conference play, which will allow each school to play the other twice. In past seasons, schools have played each other once during conference play with the home site alternating each season. The conference portion of the season will now move from six games to 12. This format will provide a better gauge for each team’s strengths, while giving each squad a home match against every other WCC opponent.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE: With a 4-3-0 record on the Merlo Field pitch in 2003, Portland made it 26-of-27 years with a winning home record. The only time the Pilots finished under .500 at home was in 1998, when they finished 3-4-1, yet still finished with a quality 10-5-3 overall mark. The 2004 squad has continued the winning ways with a perfect 3-0 mark at home this season, improving the team’s all-time Merlo Field record to 93-24-7.
PILOTS KNOW HOW TO HOST: Portland opened the 2004 season by claiming its ninth Nike Invitational title in the tournament’s 15th year at Merlo Field. The Pilots defeated Sacramento State (4-0) and UAB (1-0), while also sweeping the individual tournament honors as junior midfielder Miguel Guante and freshman defender Michael Gavin claimed the Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive awards.
SIMPSON SIGNS WITH MILLWALL: Josh Simpson signed a two-year professional contract with the Millwall Football Club of the English League Championship (former English First Division) on Aug. 5, foregoing his senior season with the Pilots. The Victoria, B.C. native impressed Millwall while training with the Canadian World Cup Team. He scored a goal against Hearts of Scotland, then performed well enough against Millwall to warrant the contract offer. When not being called upon for World Cup qualifying matches with Canada, Simpson has been a regular member of the Millwall rotation.
SOCCER COACHING STAFF: Director of soccer Bill Irwin begins his second season at the helm of the Pilot soccer program. Irwin was named the director of soccer for both the men’s and women’s programs last season following the passing of legendary Pilot head coach Clive Charles, whom Irwin served 17 seasons under as an assistant. Last year, Irwin guided the men’s team to an at-large NCAA berth and finished with a 10-9-1 overall record. Associate director of soccer Garrett Smith has been with Portland in a coaching capacity since the 1992 season. Smith handles the daily operations of the women’s team, while assisting Irwin with the men’s program. Assistant coaches Rob Baarts, Dan Schell and Lauren Orlandos enter their first season on the Portland combined staff, while Wynne McIntosh begins her third year with the Pilots.
COMING UP NEXT: The Pilots return home for a much-anticipated Friday night contest against No. 4 Santa Clara on Friday, Oct. 8 at Merlo Field. In a match billed as the “Pilot Black Out”, the evening’s festivities will include a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter fly-over, wristbands given to the first 1,000 kids, a rock climbing wall, post-game autograph zone with Pilot players, and a chance for six UP students to win $10,000 courtesy of U.S. Bank at halftime. Black Nike T-shirts will be give to students, while all fans are encouraged to show up in black attire for the themed event.
PILOTS ON THE INTERNET: The University of Portland men’s soccer team will have live stats via the internet for all home games throughout the 2004 season. Check out the Pilots at: http://www.portlandpilots.com/livestats/msoccer/xlive.htm.
TICKET INFORMATION: Season tickets are available for the 2004 Portland men’s soccer season and can be obtained through either the Pilot Ticket Office (503-943-7525), or TicketsWest (503-224-TIXX). Advanced single-game tickets are also available at the ticket office or through TicketsWest. General admission tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved stadium chair seating is $10, while reserved bench back seating is $8 for adults and $6 for students. Other ticket options are also available, including youth team and group packages.
REGULAR-SEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Pilot soccer team’s practice timed vary, for regular scheduled practice times, please contact the men’s soccer SID, Jason Brough. Portland men’s soccer practices are open to the media and public. To set up interviews before or after practice with coaches or Pilots players, please contact Jason Brough, at: (503) 943-7439 (office).
