California Baptist University
Utah Tech
MSOC Preview: Lancers Open WAC Play At Utah Tech, UNLV
9/30/2024 1:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE - The end of the non-conference schedule has provided the California Baptist men's soccer team with loads of experience and a top-100 RPI ranking courtesy of a top-20 strength of schedule. With the upcoming start of the conference slate, CBU sits sixth out of ten teams, but only conference points will matter come tournament time.
Defense has been the name of the game for CBU so far, proven by high national rankings. First-year goalkeeper Hugo Do Rego is tied for second in all Division I in saves per game at 6.13, leading a team that ranks fourth in the country with the same stop rate.
UTAH TECH AT A GLANCE
The Trailblazers open conference play with a 1-5-2 record, defeating UC Riverside on August 29. The Blazers and Lancers have two common opponents this season, the Highlanders and CSU Bakersfield, who defeated Utah Tech 1-0 in Bakersfield in the season opener.
The Blazers have also leaned on goalkeeping so far this season, with starter Stockton Short leading the nation in saves per game at 6.63. While Short leads the WAC and NCAA in saves per game, his team still allows 2.25 goals per game, leading to their current ninth-place standing in the WAC. On the other side of the ball, Utah Tech is offense by committee, as eight different Trailblazers have scored all eight goals this season.
GAME INFO:
Date: Thursday, October 3
Time: 6:30 p.m. Pacific
Where: St. George, Utah
Venue: Greats Zion Stadium
LINKS: ESPN+ | Live Stats | International Stream | UTU Roster | UTU Schedule | UTU Season Stats
UNLV AT A GLANCE
The Rebels start the week with a 3-5 non-conference record, built on a trio of shutout wins over Tulsa (2-0), CSU Bakersfield (1-0), and CSUN (1-0), and will start league play on Thursday when San Diego State visits Las Vegas. CBU has earned points in the last four meetings between the two sides, and CBU is 2-0-2 vs UNLV since 2021, including a win in the WAC Tournament Championships last season in Vegas.
The Rebels are statistically middle-of-the-road in most categories, ranking T4 in goals scored and goals per game but falling a bit shorter in the goals allowed category, eighth out of ten, and goals allowed per game, also eighth. The Rebels have scored in every loss this season and shut out every opponent in their wins, creating a very up-and-down statistical profile for the Red and Black.
GAME INFO:
Date: Sunday, October 6
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Peter Johann Memorial Field
LINKS: ESPN+ | Live Stats | International Stream | UNLV Roster | UNLV Schedule | UNLV Season Stats
