PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland will welcome back former soccer standouts Kasey Keller and Nate Jaqua to Merlo Field when the Pilots host the Seattle Sounders FC in an exhibition match on Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. The Sounders are a Major League Soccer expansion team entering its first season of competition.
Tickets for the game will go on sale on Monday, Feb. 9 at 11:00 a.m. They can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, online at ticketmaster.com, the UP box office or by calling 1-800-745-3000. All tickets are general admission and are available for $10 for adults and $7 for youth (high school and younger). Admission is free for all UP students.
“It’s always a great opportunity for the University to host a Major League Soccer team at Merlo Field, but to have Kasey Keller and Nate Jaqua returning to The Bluff will make this a special night,” said Portland assistant coach Rob Baarts, who was a teammate of Keller’s at UP for three seasons. “Both Kasey and Nate have played all across the world and now they’ll be returning to where it began. They’re both a major part of the rich tradition of soccer here at UP.”
Keller, who most recently competed with Fulham of the English Premier League, is the U.S. National Team’s all-time leader for goalkeepers in caps (102), wins (53), shutouts (47) and World Cup qualifying appearances (31). He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year an unprecedented three times (1997, 1999 and 2005) and has competed in four World Cups. The native of Olympia, Wash., played more than 300 matches in three of the world’s top leagues: England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga and Germany’s Bundesliga.
While at UP, Keller (1988-91) was a three-time All-American and was named the collegiate goalkeeper of the year in 1991. He is still the school’s all-time leader in career shutouts (43.0) and goals-against average (0.64). In 1988, he helped lead the Pilots to the school’s first ever NCAA College Cup appearance. Portland, which lost to host Indiana in the 1988 semifinals, reached the post season all four seasons with Keller between the pipes.
Jaqua (2000-02) was a two-time All-American for the Pilots. He scored 29 career goals and handed out 22 career assists. His 80 career points rank 10th all-time at UP, while his 12 game-winners are third most. Following his UP career, Jaqua has enjoyed a successful run in Major League Soccer. An MLS All-Star with the Chicago Fire in 2006, the Eugene, Ore., native helped the Fire win the 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup championship. Jaqua has made three appearances with the U.S. National Team.
Seattle’s roster also features Freddie Ljungberg, who appeared in 328 matches for Arsenal from 1998-07, scoring 72 goals. He’s ranked No. 11 on Arsenal’s all-time top 50 players, he’s the winner of two English Premier League Championships and he’s the winner of three FA Cups. The captain of Sweden during 2008 European Championships, Ljungberg has earned 75 caps and has 14 career international goals.
“The Sounders feature some of the best players in the world, so it will be a good test for our guys,” Baarts said. “In order to improve as a player and a team, it’s important to compete against the best.”
The Pilots were led offensively by sophomore Frankie Lopez last season. The forward/midfielder landed on the All-West Coast Conference First Team after notching a team-high 12 goals. Junior midfielder Collen Warner, who led the league with eight assists, also earned first-team all-conference recognition. Sophomore goalkeeper Austin Guerrero led the league in saves for the second consecutive season. Guerrero made 91 stops, posted three shutouts and earned all-league honorable mention.
