SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (3-1-1) will wrap up a six-game homestand in addition to non-conference action this week as the Cougars host Point Loma (3-3-0) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. before welcoming Cal State East Bay (4-1-1) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Prior to Saturday's game, CSUSM will honor seniors
Aaron Alvarez,
Kian Aminloo,
Giovanni Marsh,
Jesus Mentado,
Raul Meza and
Derek Westwood.
LAST WEEK
- The Cougars went 0-1-1 last week against visiting Westmont and Hawai'i Hilo.
- CSUSM and Westmont ended in a 2-2 draw on Thursday with a pair of goals by Brooklyn Baker in the 16th and 67th minutes – his first and second goals of the season.
- This was the first draw in seven meetings between the Cougars and Warriors.
- CSUSM then took its first loss of the season on Saturday as it fell 2-0 to UHH.
COUGARS BY THE NUMBERS
- CSUSM has the 40th-best goal differential in the nation at five.
- Scoring 2.0 goals per game, the Cougars rank 43rd nationally.
- Allowing just one goal per game, CSUSM's goals-against average ranks 41st in Division II.
- Tony Flores' two shutouts in goal rank 20th nationally.
- Taking 3.00 shots per game, Ryan Meinardus ranks 48th nationally and fourth in the CCAA while his 0.60 goals per game rank fourth in the conference.
WEDNESDAY AGAINST POINT LOMA
- The Sea Lions come into the week off a 3-1 loss to No. 2 Cal State LA on Saturday following a 1-0 win against Cal State Dominguez Hills last Thursday.
- PLNU has lost all three of its road games this season to Cal State San Bernardino, then-No. 22 Cal Poly Pomona and No. 2 Cal State LA.
- Austin Lavell and former Cougar Juan Salazar (2018-21) lead PLNU with six points each as they both have two goals and two assists for the season.
- CSUSM is 7-4-1 in the all-time series against PLNU and is 4-1-1 at home.
- The Sea Lions have shut out the Cougars in the last three meetings.
- The Cougars' last win in the series occurred at home in 2014 with a 4-1 decision.
- PLNU was picked to finish second in the 2023 PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll with four first-place votes.
- The Sea Lions had five players on the PacWest All-PacWest Team in goalkeeper Seth Ketterer, defender Matthew Abangan, defender Dalton Kinney, forward Parker Scalzo and midfielder Corey Lundeen.
SENIOR DAY AGAINST EAST BAY
- Despite being CCAA foes, CSUSM and CSUEB will face each other in a non-conference matchup for the very first time.
- The Cougars are 4-2-1 in the all-time series against the Pioneers and have won the last four meetings.
- The Pioneers' last win in the series came in 2017 in Hayward.
- CSUSM won last year's meeting 3-0 with two goals from Riley Patterson and a goal by Giovanni Marsh.
- Last week, the Pioneers fell 2-1 to then-No. 20 St. Mary's (Texas) on Friday before earning a 2-1 victory at UC Santa Cruz on Sunday.
- Aaron Farnan has been the Pioneers' top player to this point with three goals and six points while taking a team-leading 14 shots with eight on goal.
- CSUEB was picked to finish last in the 2023 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
THE 2023 COUGARS
- CSUSM's 2023 roster consists of 29 student-athletes with 20 returners and nine newcomers.
- Stefano Brunetto returns as CSUSM's points leader in 2022 as he tallied eight with two goals and four assists.
- The Cougars were picked to finish eighth in the 2023 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Curtis Collazos, Oliver Reader and Derek Westwood were each named All-CCAA honorable mentions for their play during the 2022 season.
THE PULVERS FILE
- This season marks the 18th season for head coach Ron Pulvers at CSUSM.
- Pulvers has a 130-115-30 (.527) record as CSUSM's head men's coach.
- In 26 seasons as a collegiate head men's soccer coach, Pulvers holds a 256-186-44 (.572) career record.
- He was 84-42-24 (.640) while in charge of the CSUSM women's program.
- From 2006-13, Pulvers led both the CSUSM men's and women's soccer teams.
