Fresno State Athletics
Men's Soccer Looking For First Win at Home
10/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Fresno State Versus Sacramento State Game Notes
Looking For the Taste of Victory
The Fresno State men's soccer team is about to embark on a three-match homestand, beginning tonight with a match versus MPSF foe Sacramento State. The Bulldogs have played only three of their 12 matches at home thus far and of those three, they have not left the stadium with a victory. The squad came close against Evansville during the Nikle Goal Rush Classic back in September, having taken the Purple Aces into double-overtime. However, after 120 minutes of play, neither team managed to score a goal and settled for a 0-0 tie. The remaining matches ended with a loss, as the Bulldogs fell 2-0 to Marshall, during the Goal Rush, and most recently to San Francisco, 3-2.
Soccer Buzz
The Bulldogs host Sacramento State (2-6-2) on Thursday and are looking for a little redemption. Last year, the Hornets defeated the Bulldogs 2-1. Sacramento is led by Sean Luigs, who has netted three goals and assisted on two. David Fraser isn't far behind with three goals of his own. Their netminder, Leo Marin has allowed 13 goals and made 26 saves, for a GAA of 1.47. Fresno State is 9-1-1 all-time versus Sacramento State. Last season, the 'Dogs faced the Hornets twice, splitting the series. At Sacramento, senior Noah Delgado netted both goals in the 2-0 win, while assisting on the lone goal in the 2-1 loss at home.
Settin' the Records Straight
With the double-overtime match versus New Mexico, the 'Dogs tied the season records for ties at five. The record was set back in 1998, by current head coach, Dave Chesler. In that year, the squad tallied a season record of 11-6-5 and went on to win the Western Athletic Conference Championship. In total this season, the 'Dogs have played in six overtime matches, including five double-overtimes, five ties and two scoreless ties. The record for the most overtime matches in a season is nine, which was set in 1999 with Chesler at the helm as well.
Looking For a Goal
Scoring goals has been difficult for the 'Dogs lately. In the last six matches, Fresno State has netted only four goals. The lack of goals is less than the total scored in the Western Kentucky match back on Sept. 23, which was the last time the Bulldogs won a match. Fresno State could also possibly set the record for most shutouts in a season. This year, the team has five, which is only one away from tying the school record set in 1998.
Noah's Arc
Senior Noah Delgado has netted seven goals this season due to his ability to arc the ball over his opponents. The midfielder has managed to score on two indirect kicks and one penalty kick. He is only two goals shy of tying his nine-goal performance last season. He has been the team leader in goals scored two of his last four seasons and at the rate he is going, there is a good chance he'll make it a third time. As a freshman he netted five goals and last season he led with nine. In addition, he also assisted on six other goals to make him the assists leader last season as well. In his three-plus years at Fresno State, he has scored 27 goals and assisted 17 times, totaling 71 points. His points total ties him at No. 7 on the all-time career leaders list and ranks at seventh on the goals leaders list.
Proud, Jeremy Keep on Rollin'
The Bulldogs' netminder Jeremy Proud has kept his defense it tact this season. He has posted 53 saves already, allowing 15 goals in 15 matches. He now ranks at No. 4 on the career leaders list for saves with 205. He is just over two-thirds of the way in attaining 76 saves in a season, which has been his benchmark the past two years. At his current pace of 3.5 saves per match, which is below his season record of 76 saves. If he makes 76 in his senior year, he would tie for the No. 2 spot at 311. He needs to make eight additional saves in the next two seasons to own the top spot and seven to tie for first.
MPSF Championships Come to Bulldog Stadium The 2001 MPSF Men's Soccer Championship will be held in Fresno State's Bulldog Stadium. All eight members of the conference qualify for the tournament that will take place beginning with quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 8, follow with semifinals on Friday, Nov. 9, and conclude with the championship match on Sunday, Nov. 11. The winner advances to the NCAA College Cup.
