FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific men's soccer team is ready to begin the season this week, hosting Cal Poly Pomona on Tuesday before Chico State makes the trip to the Central Valley on Saturday. 
 
Schedule
Game 1
vs. Cal Poly Pomona
Tuesday, September 4 • 7:00 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. | Ramirez Field
Live Stats
 
Game 2
vs. Chico State  
Saturday, September 8 • 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. | Ramirez Field
Live Stats
 
About Fresno Pacific

• About the Sunbirds

The Blue and Orange look to return to form after a disappointing 2017 season that saw the team finish in 7th place in the PacWest Conference standings. An All-Region player a year ago, Anthony Velarde (10 goals, 13 assists) was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year and looks to lead the Sunbird attack. Sophomore goalkeeper Patrick Timmer (16 starts, 67 saves), and defender Bruno Brumati (7 points, Preseason All-PacWest) will be keys for an FPU defense that allowed the fourth highest goals per game in the league last fall. 
 

• Leaderboard (Returners)
  • Shots: Anthony Velarde, 53
  • Goals: Anthony Velarde, 10
  • Points: Anthony Velarde, 33
  • Assists: Anthony Velarde, 13 
  • Saves: Patrick Timmer, 67   

 
Cal Poly Pomona

• About the Broncos

On the heels of its second NCAA Division II West Region title in the last three seasons, the Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team was again picked to capture the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association title. The Broncos, who have appeared in the NCAA West Region championship match in each of the past three seasons, are led by second-year head coach Adam Reeves, who piloted CPP to a 17-6-1 record in his first year at the helm in 2017. He will return 15 letter winners to the roster this year, including one of his three All-Americans from a year ago in senior defender Nadeer Ghantous. 
 

• All-Time Series

The Sunbirds enter this week at 1-3-1 in the all-time series against Cal Poly Pomona, but FPU has never lost on their home field. Most recently, the Broncos defeated the Sunbirds 4-2 last season in Pomona.  
 

• Leaderboard (Returners)
  • Shots: Jimmie Villalobos, 47
  • Goals: Jimmie Villalobos, 8
  • Points: Jimmie Villalobos, 20
  • Assists: Jimmie Villalobos, 4
  • Saves: N/A 

 
Chico State

• About the Wildcats

Chico State turned in a strong 2017 season, winning ten games before falling in the opening round of the CCAA tournament to Cal State LA. Last week, the Wildcats opened the season with a pair of home games, defeating Seattle Pacific 2-0 on Thursday before falling 1-0 against Western Washington on Saturday. Jeremiah Egujie has picked up where he left last season, scoring both of CSU's goals so far this fall. 
 

• All-Time Series

FPU and Chico State have not met since the 2003 season, when FPU came away with a 4-0 victory in Chico. The Sunbirds had dropped the previous six meetings and have never defeated the Wildcats in Fresno.  
 

• Leaderboard (Returners)
  • Shots: Jeremiah Egujie, 76
  • Goals: Jeremiah Egujie, 10  
  • Points: Jeremiah Egujie, 22
  • Assists: Fabian Roman, 4  
  • Saves: Damion Lewis, 68 

 
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