Cougars Welcome Pair of Colorado Opponents to Begin 2024 Season
SAN MARCOS – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team will begin its 2024 season by hosting Colorado Colorado Springs on Thursday at 3 p.m. before welcoming Colorado School of Mines on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Prior to Saturday's game, CSUSM will honor seniors Ryan Brown, Justin Carreon, Diego Chavez, Curtis Collazos, Logan Garcia, Nomar Ibarra, Ryan Meinardus, Pablo Orozco, Riley Patterson, Oliver Reader and Vincent Saldivar.
LAST SEASON
- Last year, CSUSM made its first CCAA Tournament appearance and earned its first postseason win in the NCAA Division II era.
- Entering the CCAA Tournament as the fifth seed, CSUSM knocked off fourth-seeded and No. 11 Chico State in penalty kicks after tying 1-1 to advance to the semifinals.
- The Cougars ended their season with a 2-0 loss to eventual champion Cal State LA in the semifinals in Arcata.
- CSUSM finished fifth in the CCAA standings with a 4-4-3 record while going 7-8-5 overall.
- Curtis Collazos was named to the All-CCAA first team while Ryan Meinardus was an honorable mention.
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.
GAME 1 | COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS | |
Date | Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 |
Time | 3 p.m. |
Location | San Marcos, Calif. |
Venue | The Cage |
Records | CSUSM (0-0) UCCS (0-0) |
Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
Live Video | FloFC ($) |
Tickets | HomeTown Ticketing |
SEASON OPENER AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
- Thursday's season opener against UCCS will be the first meeting between the Cougars and Mountain Lions.
- UCCS is coming off a 10-6-5 season that saw them make an appearance in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
- The Mountain Lions tied for fourth in last season's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) standings.
- UCCS was picked to finish fourth in the 2024 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
- The Mountain Lions will be without their top-four point scorers from the 2023 season as they all graduated.
- Top returner Dani Barajas tallied six points last season with two goals and two assists in 18 games.
GAME 2 | COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | |
Date | Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 |
Time | 11 a.m. |
Location | San Marcos, Calif. |
Venue | The Cage |
Records | CSUSM (0-0) Mines (0-0) |
Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
Live Video | FloFC ($) |
Tickets | HomeTown Ticketing |
SATURDAY AGAINST THE OREDIGGERS
- Saturday will also be the first meeting between CSUSM and Mines.
- The Orediggers are coming off a 5-6-6 season in 2023, which saw them finish seventh in the RMAC standings.
- Mines was picked to finish fifth in the 2024 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Top returner Marc Zimmerman had the second-most points for the Orediggers last season as he accumulated 10 with four goals and two assists.
- Before visiting CSUSM, Mines will open its season at Azusa Pacific on Thursday night.
THE PULVERS FILE
- This season marks the 19th season for head coach Ron Pulvers at CSUSM.
- Pulvers has a 134-122-34 (.521) record as CSUSM's head men's coach.
- In 26 seasons as a collegiate head men's soccer coach, Pulvers holds a 260-193-48 (.567) 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.
Players Mentioned
Players Mentioned
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