Updated on Sept 19: the match will now be live streamed. Click here for the live stream link.
Updated on Sept 18: the kick off time for Thursday's match has been pushed out from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After five straight home matches to open the season, Santa Clara men's soccer hit the road for the first time when they travel to Las Vegas for two matches. The Broncos take on Utah Valley in a neutral site match on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and face the host school UNLV on Sunday at 7 p.m.
THE WOLVERINES
Utah Valley head coach Greg Maas enters his sixth year at the helm compiliing a 55-37-8 record during his time in Orem, Utah. The Wolverined return 16 letterwinners including eight starters from the 2018 squad that finished with an overall record of 9-9 including 6-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. This season, Maas and his staff welcome 13 newcomers and are off to a 2-2-1 start.
The Wolverines are coming off a 2-1 loss in double overtime to UC Irvine at home on Monday. A trio of players, Alec Felix, Blake Frischknecht and Zach Maas have two goals apiece with Felix accounting for two assists to lead the team with six points.
On the season, Utah Valley has scored eight goals but have given up 10. Goalkeepers Mitch Jensen and Jose Wheelwright have split time with Jensen posting a 1.28 goals against average in three matches and Wheelwright with a 2.14 GAA in two matches.
SERIES HISTORY
Thursday's match is the first ever meeting between Utah Valley and Santa Clara.
THE BRONCOS
The 2019 campaign marks the 18th season at the helm for Santa Clara head coach Cam Rast who leads a squad that returns 23 players including three All-West Coast Conference honorees from a team that finished 5-10-2.
Nineteen of the returners saw action last season with 13 of them appearing in double digit matches to account for 80 percent of its goals and all of its assists.
Junior
Javier Ruiz Duran led the team in goals (six) and assists (five) to earn All-WCC Second Team recognition along with senior
Miles Robinson who scored four and assisted on three. Sophomore
Eduardo Lopez Perez tallied a pair of goals and was named to the WCC All-Freshman team.
Redshirt junior
Henning Jolivet brings the most experience between the woodwork playing in seven matches last season to finish with a 3-3-1 record and a 1.89 goals against average.
NOTES
Live Stream
• All Bronco home matches and West Coast Conference road matches are streamed live on the WCC Network with David Gentile doing the play-by-play for the home matches.
Broncos Team Information
• Twenty-three players return from the 2018 squad that finished with an overall record of 5-10-2 (1-5-1 in the West Coast Conference).
• Nineteen players with playing experience return including 13 who played 10 or more games last season.
Class Breakdown
Across the Globe
• The Bronco roster fields a squad composed of player hometowns from eight states and five countries.
o States: California, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington
o Countries: Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Spain, United States
All-West Coast Conference
United Soccer Coaches All-West Region
2019 Exhibition Matches
• Freshman goalkeeper
Guillem Badenes Mecho played in 135 of 180 minutes including starting the Sacramento State game.
Season Openers
• With the win against Holy Cross, Broncos head coach Cam Rast is now 10-8 including 5-4 at home in season openers.
Firsts
Goals
• Senior
Sam Agosti and sophomore
Martin Aasen tallied their first goals as a Bronco in the season opener (Aug. 30) against Holy Cross.
• Junior
Terrell Smith scored their first career goals against San Jose State (Sept. 6).
Assists
• Redshirt sophomore
Presten Manthey had his first career assists (two) against San Jose State (Sept. 6).
• Sophomore
Sakari Carter had his first career assist against San Diego State (Sept. 14).
Starts
• Redshirt freshman
Presten Manthey made his first Bronco start against San Jose State (Sept. 6).
Bronco Debuts
• Freshman
Damani Osei made his Bronco debut coming off the bench against Missouri State (Sept. 2).
Shutous
• Badenes Mecho recorded his first career shutout against Holy Cross (Aug. 30).
Starting XI
• Alex Achramowicz started in the first two matches (vs. Holy Cross on Aug. 30 and Missouri State on Sept. 2).
• Alan Camacho Soto started against Holy Cross on Aug. 30, Missouri State on Sept. 2 and San Diego State on Sept. 14.
•
Nate Shue started against San Jose State (Sept. 6), Grand Canyon (Sept. 8) and San Diego State (Sept. 14).
• Presten Manthey started against San Jose State (Sept. 6) and Grand Canyon (Sept. 8).
Spreading the Wealth
• Eight Broncos have scored a goal this season led by
Sam Agosti with two.
Home, then away
• Santa Clara started its season with a five-match homestand, followed by five straight matches on the road before it starts West Coast Conference play at home on Oct. 12.
WCC Top Play Tuesday
• Our first West Coast Conference #TopPlayTuesday of the year!
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