SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 23 Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (4-0-2) will wind down non-conference play and begin the back half of its six-game road trip with a visit to Cal State East Bay (1-4-0) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Hayward.
 
LAST WEEK

• CSUSM earned its fourth win of the season last Wednesday when it earned a 3-2 victory at Biola with goals from Brooklyn Baker, Malachi Wright and Ryan Meinardus.
• The Cougars then battled to a 2-2 draw at Westmont on Saturday with goals from Riley Patterson and Meinardus.

 
COUGARS BY THE NUMBERS

• CSUSM is off to its second-best start in the NCAA Division II era (2015-present) at 4-0-2. The 2018 squad started the year at 6-0-0.
• The Cougars returned to the Top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II Poll as they came in at No. 23 on Tuesday. This was CSUSM's third overall time appearing in the poll and the first time since Sept. 25, 2018, when they were also No. 23.
• Ryan Meinardus leads the CCAA with five goals and is one of eight players in Division II with a nation-leading three game-winning goals this season. He also leads the conference in goals per game (0.83) and shots on goals per game (2.33) while ranking second in points per game (1.83), shot accuracy (.778), shots per game (3.00) and total points (11).
• Stefano Brunetto ranks third in the conference with three assists and .50 assists per game.
• Making 4.17 saves per game, keeper Tony Flores ranks second in the CCAA. Flores ranks fourth in save percentage (.806) and goals-against average (1.00)
• CSUSM has the 17th-best shot accuracy in Division II and ranks second in the conference at .549 while putting the fourth-most shots on goal per game (6.50)
• The Cougars have played the second-toughest schedule to date among CCAA schools as past opposition has tallied a winning percentage of .593.

FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME AT EAST BAY

• Saturday will mark the end of the non-conference play for CSUSM and CSUEB.
• This will be East Bay's first game against a ranked opponent this season.
• The Pioneers are off to slow start with just one win for the season coming against Menlo on Sept. 14.
• Last week, East Bay took a pair of 1-0 losses at Westmont and Fresno Pacific.
• Saturday will be the 10th all-time meeting between the Cougars and Pioneers as CSUSM leads the all-time series at 4-3-2.
• In Hayward, the Cougars are 2-1-2 against the Pioneers.
• CSUSM fell 1-0 to CSUEB in non-conference play last season before taking a 1-1 draw in CCAA play in Hayward.
• Leon Eisert and Aaron Farnan lead the Pioneers with three points each this season.
• CSUEB ranks last in the CCAA in assists per game (0.40), points per game (2.00), scoring offense (0.80), shot accuracy (.351) and shots on goal per game (4.00).
• The Pioneers were picked to finish ninth in the 2024 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

2024 OUTLOOK

• CSUSM was picked to finish seventh in the 2024 CCAA Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Cougars' roster of 29 includes 19 returners and 10 newcomers.
• Curtis Collazos was named to 2024 CCAA Men's Soccer Watchlist after earning All-CCAA first team honors in 2023.

THE PULVERS FILE

• This season marks the 19th season for head coach Ron Pulvers at CSUSM.
• Pulvers has a 138-122-36 (.527) record as CSUSM's head men's coach.
• In 26 seasons as a collegiate head men's soccer coach, Pulvers holds a 264-193-50 (.570) career record.
• He was 84-42-24 (.640) while in charge of the CSUSM women's program.
• From 2006-13, Pulvers led both the CSUSM men's and women's soccer teams.