STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific men's soccer team will kickoff its fall 2021 season with a contest against CSUN on Sunday in Northridge at the Matador Soccer Field.

MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Pacific (0-0-0) at CSUN (0-1-0)
Date: Sunday, August 29, 2021
Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: Northridge, Calif.
Venue: Matador Soccer Field 
Live Stats: https://gomatadors.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Live Audio: https://gomatadors.com/watch/?Live=2608&type=Live
Live Video: https://plus.ESPN.com
  
Pacific Quick Facts
• Nickname: Tigers
• Conference: West Coast Conference
 - Picked to finish 6th in the preseason
• Spring 2021 Record: 2-7 (overall), 2-4 (WCC)
• Head Coach: Adam Reeves

Opponent Quick Facts
• Name: CSUN
• Nickname: Matadors
• Conference: Big West
 - Picked to finish 5^th in the preseason
• 2019 Record: 8-8-3 (overall), 2-3-2 (MWC)
• Head Coach: Terry Davila

Last Meeting
The last meeting between the Tigers and the Matadors came away with 1-0 win to advance in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. In that game, the Tigers' Tariq Branche scored in the 76^th minute to end a scoreless contest. Pacific goalkeeper Curtis Goldsmith made two saves in the shutout victory.

On the Hunt
Pacific is looking for its first season-opening win since 2018 when the Tigers knocked off Westmont by a 4-0 margin.

Pre-Season Honors
Midfielders Ryan Her and Yazid Omri were selected to the conference's preseason All-West Coast Conference team. The Tigers along with Portland and Loyola Marymount were the only institutions with multiple pre-season selections. Omri started in all eight of the team's matches in the spring, posting a team-high six points with two goals and assists. Her played in all eight contests and played 697 minutes of action as he made his second consecutive all-WCC second team.  
 
Super Seniors
Four Tigers – Mathias Saether, Max Bilsborough, Charles Brewah and Diego Villapudua – return for their fifth year on the pitch. Bilsborough is enrolled in a graduate program at Pacific, Saether, Brewah and Villapudua are completing their studies with the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA. 

Exhibition Success 
The Tigers enter tonight with a taste of success coming into the season opener with exhibition wins over UCSB (3-2) and Stanislaus State (3-1).

GOOOOAL
Seven Tigers scored a goal during the spring 2021 season – six of which return to the pitch including its top two goal scorers – Emory Rapaport and Yazid Omri.
 
Defense
Goalkeeper Eric Cotton returns for his senior season after logging 831:08 of action in the shortened spring 2021 season. Cotton was the lone goalkeeper for UOP in the 2021 season. 

Close Finishes
The spring 2021 season saw UOP play in nine contests with eight being decided by a goal or less.  

Next Game
The next contest for the Tigers will be the home opener on Thursday, Sept. 2 at noon when they host Pac 12 member Stanford. The Cardinal are the defending Pac 12 champions and ranked No. 8 in the first United Soccer Coaches poll of the fall.