STOCKTON, Calif. – The University of the Pacific men's soccer team will make the trek to San Jose and
PayPal Park to face Pac 12 member, Cal on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Bears are the second Pac 12 foe that Pacific has faced in 2021. Last week, Pacific dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 25 last week in Stockton. PayPal Park serves as the home venue to the MLS' San Jose Earthquakes. The Tigers come into the contest with a 2-1 mark, including a 4-2 win over CSU Bakersfield on Sunday on the road in Bakersfield. Cal enters the matchup with back-to-back home wins over Dixie State (3-0, Fri. Sept. 3) and UNLV (4-3, Sun, Sept. 5).
SPECIAL NOTES for those planning to attend:
MATCH INFORMATION:
Teams: Pacific (2-1-0) vs. California (2-1-1).
Date: Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021
Time: 7:00 pm PST
Location: San Jose, Calif.
Venue: PayPal Park
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=357406
Pacific Quick Facts
• Nickname: Tigers
• Conference: West Coast Conference
- Picked to finish 6th in the preseason
• Head Coach:
Adam Reeves
Opponent Quick Facts
• Name: California
• Nickname: Bears
• Conference: Pac 12
- Picked to finish 5th in the preseason
• Head Coach: Kevin Grimes
Last Meeting
The last meeting between the Tigers and the Bears was on August 31, 2018 as Pacific upset No. 14 Cal, 2-1 in Stockton. Camden Riley scored the golden goal in the 98
th minute of the match for the victory.
Last Time Out
After the CSU-Bakersfield had rallied to tie the game at 2, the University of the Pacific men's soccer team came back with two goals in a 1:15 span to pull off a 4-2 win over the host Roadrunners on Sunday, Sept. 5. It is the first time in program history that Pacific has pulled off a win in Bakersfield as the Tigers had lost the previous two meetings in 2019 and in 2017.
Variety Pack
The Tigers have spread the wealth on its goal-scoring efforts with six-different players finding the back of the net in 2021.
Sparks from the Bench
Senior
Mamoru Kamisasanuki came off the Tigers' bench in the 72
nd minute, last Sunday 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.
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.
Four Sure
Three different players –
Mathias Saether,
Samuel Villalta and
Erik Centeno for Pacific have four shots to lead the offense in 2021.
Defense
Goalkeeper
Eric Cotton has allowed a goal or less in four of his 11 games as a starter for the Tigers. Cotton had a career-high eight saves against CSUN earlier this season. Cotton and fellow member of the defense Emory Rappaport are the two lone Tigers to play all 270 minutes of the season.
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.
