California Baptist University
San Jose State
MSOC PREVIEW: Lancers Set To Challenge San Jose State, Seattle At Home
10/16/2024 12:44:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE - California Baptist University men's soccer has opened the Western Athletic Conference season with a tepid 1-1-1 record after falling to San Diego State in last week's home conference opener. Despite the slow start to league play, the Lancers have an opportunity this week to kick up their standing with significant tilts against two of the top three teams in the WAC, San Jose State and Seattle U.
CBU has seen an uptick in scoring since the start of league play, led by Luis Borrero, who scored in back-to-back matches at Utah Tech and against SDSU. In recent weeks, the squad gained significant health and numbers, which has translated to the offense efforts showing more promise. Blake D'Agostino still paces the Lancers with four goals, with Borrero, Andrew Lovell, and Leo Mendez gaining ground with two each.
SAN JOSE STATE AT A GLANCE
The Spartans remain unbeaten in the conference with a 2-0-2 record. They've already handled Air Force (3-0) and Utah Valley (3-2) on the road but finished scoreless draws in their last two at home against Utah Tech and UNLV. The all-time series between these two programs is short but lopsided, with CBU owning a 5-1-1 advantage and currently riding a three-game win streak against the Spartans.
SJSU does boast the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Week in Niklas Dossmann. The junior defender played all 180 minutes in both shutouts, leading the defensive charge that held the Rebels and Trailblazers to just two shots on goal total. Offensively, the Spartans deploy one of the best single offensive threats in the WAC in Angel Iniguez. On the season, Iniguez ranks second in the league in total points (16), tied for third in goals (6) and tied for fourth in assists (4).
SEATTLE U AT A GLANCE
The Redhawks took over the top spot on the conference table last weekend after going 1-0-1 after a 1-1 draw against UNLV and a 1-0 victory against Utah Tech. These results earned them the bragging rights of being the first WAC team to reach 10 points with their 3-0-1 overall record. Since joining the WAC, CBU is 4-2-0 against the often nationally-ranked Redhawks.
The Redhawks' Taketo Onodero earned last week's WAC Offensive Player of the Week award after assisting Seattle's only goal against the Rebels and scoring the game-winner against Utah Tech. Despite his highlight week, Onodero is the Redhawks' second-leading scorer this season, trailing Titus Washington by a pair of goals and an assist. Washington currently ranks fourth in the WAC in points and points per game.
