STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific men's soccer team is amid a three-game winning streak and a three-match homestand as they host Sacramento State on Thursday night at Knoles Field. The Tigers are ranked No. 8 in the latest United Soccer Coaches West Region poll and senior midfielder Ryan Her was named the West Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Sacramento State (1-5) at Pacific (4-1)
Date: Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021
Time: 7 pm PST
Location: Stockton, Calif.
Venue: Knoles Field 
Live Stats: https://pacifictigers.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Live Video: https://wccsports.com/watch/  

Opponent Quick Facts
• Name: Sacramento State
• Nickname: Hornets
• Conference: Big West Conference
• 2021 Record: 1-5
 - Picked to finish sixth in the Big West
• Head Coach: Michael Linenberger

Last Meeting
Tonight's matchup is the seventh meeting between the two teams. The all-time series stands at 2-2-2. Dating back to 1992, the Hornets won two straight, the Tigers followed that up with two straight wins; then, the two teams have played to a draw in their last two. The last contest was played at Hornet Field, a 1-1 draw, in 2019. The two teams last faced off in Stockton in 2018, a scoreless draw in double overtime.  

Last Time Out  
The University of the Pacific rallied from an early 1-0 deficit for its second-straight 2-1 win to defeat UNLV on Sunday night. Jose Angel Reyes scored his second goal of the season in the 64^th minute, following a steal of the ball from a UNLV defender. The stingy Pacific defense allowed just one goal for the third time in five games on the season.
 
Scoreboard Says 2-1
Three of the four wins for the Tigers, including the last two contests, have come by a 2-1 margin.

Home Sweet Home
Sunday's 2-1 win over UNLV was the first win of the season at home after picking up its three wins away from the friendly confines of Knoles Field. 

Her Earns WCC Weekly Honor
Senior midfielder Ryan Her has been named the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week as announced by conference officials on Monday. Her had a goal in the Tigers' 2-1 win over Cal and picked up an assist on Sunday night in the 2-1 win over UNLV. Teammate Yazid Omri was the last Tiger to earn weekly honors from the WCC on April 6, 2021. 

Her Leads the Attack
Ryan Her leads Pacific in shots (9) and game-winning goals (2) and shares the lead in shots on goal (4) and goals (2). 

Winning Streak
The last three-game winning streak for the Pacific men's soccer team was 2018 when the Tigers had a trio of three-game winning streaks. The last four-game winning streak was in 2016 when Pacific won six-straight contests.

Home Stand
Thursday's match will be the second of a season-high stretch of three-consecutive home matches at Knoles Field.

In the Polls
The Tigers are currently ranked No. 8 in the latest United Soccer Coaches West Region poll.

Complete Poll
1. Loyola Marymount
2. Santa Clara
3. Oral Roberts
4. Missouri State
5. Denver
6. Saint Mary's  
7. Loyola (Ill.)
8. Pacific
9. Drake
10. Gonzaga

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 CSUN 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. Centeno had a pair of assists on the Tigers' two goals against UNLV on Sunday. 

Sparks from the Bench
Senior Mamoru Kamisasanuki came off the Tigers' bench in the 72^nd minute against CSUB to pay immediate dividends. The senior was quickly involved in the Pacific attack as he had the assist on both the goals after the Roadrunners had tied the match at 2.   

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.