STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific men's soccer team will kickoff the home portion of its schedule with a contest against Pac 12 member, No. 25 Stanford on Thursday night at Knoles Field. The Tigers come into the contest with a 1-0 mark, following a 2-1 win its season opener against CSUN. The Cardinal started the season with a 3-1 loss at the hands of SMU, last Thursday in Dallas.

MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Stanford (0-1-0) at Pacific (1-0-0)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021
Time: 7:30 pm PST
Location: Stockton, Calif.
Venue: Knoles Field 
Live Stats: https://www.pacifictigers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Live Video: https://wccsports.com/watch/
  • 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: Stanford
• Nickname: Cardinal
• Conference: Pac 12
 - Picked to finish 1^st in the preseason
• Spring 2021 Record: 10-3-1 (overall), 7-2-1 (Pac 12)
• Head Coach: Jeremy Gunn

Last Meeting
The last meeting between the Tigers and the Cardinal was the spring 2021 season opener on February 12, 2021 in Palo Alto. Stanford posted a 4-0 win over Pacific as they scored all four of their goals in the final 45 minutes. The last win for Pacific came on Sept. 20, 2018 as the Tigers' Jonathan Jimenez found the back of the net in the 16^th minute on a long ball, following a series of passes from Camden Riley and Charles Brewah.

 Last Time Out
Following a foul called on CSUN, in the 86^th minute, the Pacific men's soccer capitalized when Ryan Her landed a shot in the lower center for the game-winning goal en route to a 2-1 win on Sunday night in Northridge.  

On the Hunt
Pacific is looking for its first home opener win since 2019 when the Tigers defeated San Jose State, 2-1 in overtime. Anthony Ornedain scored the game winner in the 94^th minute.

Party Like It's 2018
With the 2-1 win over CSUN, Pacific picked up its first season-opening win since 2018 when the Tigers knocked off Westmont by a 4-0 margin.
 
Hometown Product Makes Debut
Stockton native Erik Centeno earned the start against the Matadors and made an immediate impact with 90 minutes of action. He recorded his first shot in the 36^th minute that sailed wide; later in the game, he had his first shot on goal in the 52^nd minute. 

Defense
Goalkeeper Eric Cotton has allowed a goal or less in four of his 10 games as a starter for the Tigers. Cotton had a career-high eight saves against the Matadors on Sunday.

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

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. 

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. 
 
Next Game
The next contest for the Tigers will be on Sunday, Sept. 5 against CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m. at the Main Soccer Field.