This Week
Coming off an impressive 3-2 overtime win at Biola, to extended its school-record unbeaten streak to 14 matches, the Point Loma men's soccer team (12-2-2, 9-0-2 PacWest) will close out the regular season with a pair of matches in the Bay Area. The Sea Lions will open their trip in Hayward, Calif., in a contest against Holy Names on Thursday Nov. 2. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. Two days later, PLNU will take on Academy at Art in the regular season finale. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m.
Follow Along
If you are unable to attend any of the games during the homestand, or any PacWest games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats will be free of charge while video stream will vary in price based on the venue. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
A look at the Sea Lions
The 2017 Point Loma men's soccer season is not one to forget. The Loma men have an impressive 12-2-2 season record and an unbeaten streak of 14 matches, ranking them to second in conference (29 points), just behind No. 4 California Baptist (31). However, it is not just the number of wins but the fashion in which the Sea Lions are earning them that has fans and the team alike believing this could be a special season. Point Loma has four comeback victories on the season to fuel that belief and the unbeaten streak. The first was when PLNU overcame a 1-0 deficit, playing with 10 men on the road to defeat Sonoma State 2-1. Later, PLNU overcame a 1-0 deficit to win in the final two minutes of overtime on a golden goal by Eduardo Gallardo. The other comebacks came in shootouts on the road when PLNU fought back to win 5-4 at Dixie State and 3-2 at Biola.
This week marks the third straight week a Sea Lion has earned PacWest weekly honors. Senior midfielder,
Eduardo Gallardo is the first to earn a Player of the Week honor this season. Freshman
Tim Siegfried also joins the list of honorees, being voted the PacWest Freshman of the Week. Junior
Wiktor Lasota continues to remain in the top 10 in conference in three categories. The goalkeeper is second in goals against average (.717), save percentage (.808) and shutouts per game (.500). With seven shutouts, Lasota ranks 19th nationally in both shutouts per game and goals against average.
A jump up in the NCAA West Regional poll
The Point Loma men's soccer team moved up four places to the No. 2 spot in the latest NCAA West Regional poll. This year's team is the first in program history to have been regionally ranked at the NCAA Division II level, going from having never made the regional rankings, to making the poll in back-to-back weeks. California Baptist remains No.1 in the West. Fellow PacWest member, Notre Dame de Namur, is sixth, giving the PacWest three of the six spots if the regional were to occur today.
Click here to view the complete NCAA regional rankings.
The winning number
The Point Loma men's soccer program has not lost a match since the first week of the season. Their 12 wins are the most for PLNU since winning 13 in 2007. Their 14 match unbeaten streak has long since eclipsed the previous school record of 10.
A chance for history
No Point Loma men's soccer team has ever won a conference title. However, this year's team is still alive to bring home its first. With two matches remaining, the Sea Lions will need to win both matches on the road and get help from Notre Dame de Namur to knock off California Baptist on Saturday. CBU and NDNU will play in Belmont, Calif.
A look at the Hawks
Coming off of a tough, four-match losing streak, the Hawks are 12th in conference with seven points. Holy Names holds a 2-12-1 season record and a 2-7-2 PacWest record. Despite their season record, the Eagles lead the rest of the conference in saves (94). Freshman Carlos Vazquez-Perez is third in average shots per game (3.92), points per game (2.00), and goals per game (1.00).
A look at the Urban Knights
Academy of Art is 10th in PacWest with a 4-10-1 overall record and a 3-7 PacWest record. Coming off a tough 3-0 loss against No. 4 California Baptist, the Urban Knights play Biola on Thursday Nov. 2, hoping to hold out a win as the season wraps up.
Next matches
The Sea Lions have put themselves in a position to play in the postseason. PLNU will find out its postseason fate during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 6 on NCAA.com.
