Friday, August 28th - 5:00 pm PT
vs Drake - Cownie Soccer Complex
Live Stats | @PacificMSoccer
Sunday, August 30th - 11:00 am PT
vs. Omaha - Caniglia Field
Live Stats | Live Video ($)| @PacificMSoccer
TIGERS TAKE FLIGHT
The Pacific men's soccer team opens up the regular season on Friday night in Des Moines, Iowa against the Drake Bulldogs (5:00 pm PT) before trekking to Omaha, Nebraska for a matchup with University of Nebraska Omaha on Sunday (11:00 am PT). The matches represent the first time in the new era of the program that the Tigers will play in the central time zone.
WHEREVER YOU GO, WE WILL FOLLOW (LIVE ONLINE)
Tiger fans can follow Pacific throughout the weekend by viewing live stat broadcasts of both contests. Additionally, Sunday's contest will be streamed live via Omaha Athletics. The broadcast is part of a paid subscription service. Fans should also stay posted to @PacificMSoccer on Twitter and @Pacific_Soccer on Instagram for updates throughout the weekend.
KNOLES CROWD GOES HOME HAPPY
The Pacific soccer team registered a 2-0 victory over the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs on Sunday night, concluding the exhibition season with a home win in front of 808 fans at Knoles Field. The Orange and Black took the lead in the 64th minute as freshman Alfredo Alcala fed Lange on a sharp cross, and Lange headed the ball past Anderson for a 1-0 Pacific advantage. The Tigers added a late strike by Julio Cervantes, who beat the defense and finished towards the side of the net, catching the UC Santa Cruz goalkeeper off guard to give the Tigers a 2-0 advantage.
SPEAKING OF THAT CROWD...
Pacific was 42nd in the nation in home attendance last season in the first year of action since 1985 (Division I).
NEW FACES IN ORANGE AND BLACK
The Tigers added freshmen Alfredo Alcala, C.J. Camacho, Brian Im, Johnatan Rico-Contreres, Camden Riley and junior Ander Saez to the squad for the 2015 campaign. The new faces are in addition to 18 returning letterwinners from a season ago, the Tigers inaugural West Coast Conference campaign.
GOW JOINS STAFF FOR 2015
In January, Pacific added Matt Gow to the staff as an assistant coach with a focus on goalkeeper development. Gow comes to the Tigers from Virginia Tech of the ACC. At Virginia Tech, Gow was an assistant coach working with the Hokies' goalkeepers. The Hokies posted a 7-8-2 overall record and 2-5-1 mark in ACC play in 2014. Virginia Tech goalkeepers posted seven clean sheets on the season, limiting opponents to 1.24 goals per game during the campaign.
BLACKMON NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
The West Coast Conference has announced its 2015 Preseason All-Conference team and Pacific sophomore Tristan Blackmon was named to the top 11 in his first year of eligibility for the plaudit. The Preseason team was voted on solely by the conference's eight head coaches. Blackmon, a Las Vegas product, picked up Second Team honors and also was named to the All-Freshmen team in 2014 after leading the West Coast Conference with eight goals. He also led the WCC with 0.47 goals per game and 1.06 points per game. Blackmon's point total of 18 was second in the WCC. Six of his eight goals on the year came against WCC opponents, which was also tops in the conference.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Drake is coming off a 5-11-3 season, including a 3-3 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference. James Wypych led all returners with 5 goals (14 points) on just 14 shots. Darrin MacLeod returns to goalkeeper duties after starting all 19 games in 2014, averaging a 1.73 GAA, with three shutouts.
Omaha finished last season with a 10-5-2 overall record. Mark Moulton leads all returners with 16 points (3 goals, 10 assists). In goal, both Josh Christensen and Joseph Ghitis return after platooning last season. Christensen played eight games, recording an 0.47 GAA and five clean sheets while Ghitis played in nine games, recording a 1.06 GAA and tallying three shutouts. Omaha took down No. 9/10 Washington, 4-3, in an exhibition game that finished in penalty kicks.
ALL TIME SERIES RECORDS
This is the Tigers' first ever matchup with both Drake and Omaha.
TIGRES EN ESPANOL
Select Pacific Men's Soccer home games will be broadcast in both English and Spanish via the Pacific Digital Network and TheW.tv. Be sure to check PacificTigers.com for updated listings and more information.
HOME PROMOTIONS ON TAP
On September 25th, Univision will be sponsoring a T-Shirt giveaway at the Men's Soccer game against Grand Canyon (7:00 pm) and between games of the Women's/Men's doubleheader on October 30th (5:00 pm women's kickoff, 7:30 pm men's kickoff), there will be a Pacific Athletics scarf giveaway. Bookmark PacificTigers.com for more details and updated schedule information as the matches approach.
FREE FUTBOL IN THE 209
All 2015 Pacific Men's and Women's Soccer matches at Knoles Field are FREE to attend.
SOCIAL SPHERE
For the latest on the Pacific Men's Soccer program, be sure to follow @PacificMSoccer on Twitter and @Pacific_Soccer on Instagram.
