SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos men's soccer team (1-0-1) will wrap up its three-game homestand against Concordia University Irvine (1-0-0) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. before traveling to Vanguard (0-0-0) on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
LAST WEEK

• CSUSM began the season with a 1-1 draw against Colorado Colorado Springs on Thursday.
• The Cougars ended the weekend on a high note as they defeated Colorado School of Mines with a 2-1 win on Saturday while Ryan Meinardus had a two-goal day for CSUSM.

 
CCAA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• After being involved in all of CSUSM's goals this past week, redshirt senior Ryan Meinardus was named the season's first CCAA Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday afternoon.
• Meinardus earned his first point of the week with an assist in CSUSM's 1-1 draw against UCCS on Thursday.
• He followed that up with his second career two-goal day against Mines on Saturday, leading CSUSM to its first win of the year.

WEDNESDAY AGAINST THE GOLDEN EAGLES

• CUI began its season this past Saturday with a 2-1 win over The Master's.
• The Golden Eagles are coming off a 6-9 season in 2023 in which they finished sixth in the PacWest with a 5-5 conference record.
• Concordia was picked the finish seventh in this season's PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
• 2023 All-PacWest selections Kevin Sanchez and Wyatt Burris return for the Golden Eagles. Sanchez had the second-most goals for CUI last season with seven while tallying one assist, and Burris led CUI's defense.
• Since beginning the all-time series in 2010, CUI has a slight edge in the all-time series against CSUSM at 6-5.
• The Cougars won last year's meeting against the Golden Eagles in Irvine by a 2-0 decision.
• CSUSM is 1-3 against CUI when playing in San Marcos as its only win occurred in 2017.

FIRST ROAD GAME AT VANGUARD

• Saturday's meeting against Vanguard will be the first since 2014.
• Before facing the Cougars, the Lions will play their season opener at Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday after their scheduled season opener against Providence Christian was postponed on Sept. 6.
• The Cougars and Lions are tied at 2-2 in the all-time series with CSUSM having a 2-1 lead when playing at Vanguard.
• This will be Vanguard's first year playing an NCAA Division II schedule as it is in the transition process from NAIA.
• The Lions were picked to finish ninth in the PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Vanguard returns nine starters from last year's squad.

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 135-122-35 (.522) record as CSUSM's head men's coach.
• In 26 seasons as a collegiate head men's soccer coach, Pulvers holds a 261-193-49 (.568) 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.