SAN DIEGO – The newly-ranked No. 12 San Diego men's soccer program (2-0-0, 0-0-0 WCC), returns from a successful road trip to begin a five-game homestand, hosting CSUN (0-0-2, 0-0-0 Big West) for the home opener on Friday at 7 p.m., in Torero Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
- Behind goals from Oliver Rhoades and Cesar Bahena, the Toreros delivered a statement victory in Seattle, defeating No. 6 Washington, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon.
- With just seconds remaining in the first half, Kevin Pena delivered a set piece cross to Rhoades, who buried it for a 1-0 lead the half.
- Bahena would put the game away, after Rhoades fed Christian Vigil, who delivered a sterling cross to the feet of Bahena, who volleyed in the winner in the dying embers of the game.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- The Toreros enter the weekend with the reigning WCC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week.
- Bahena was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, following his three-point performance in Seattle, while goalkeeper Luis Ludosan was named the Defensive Player of the Week, after recording eight total saves and a shutout against Washington.
- In addition, Trevor Dillon also picked up some weekly hardware, by being named to TopDrawerSoccer's National Team of the Week.
- San Diego is aiming to become the first repeat WCC men's soccer champion since Saint Mary's in 2018 and 2019.
- Three players were recently selected to the WCC's All-Preseason Team, as Mason Tunbridge, Dillon and Ross Johnstone led the way for the program.
- As a team, the program was picked to finish second, just two votes behind Portland, but with equal amounts of first place votes (four).
TORERO TIDBITS
- San Diego is ranked No. 12 in the nation by United Soccer Coaches, good for their highest ranking in 11 years.
- Denis Kelmendi's next game played will be the 50th of his career between San Diego and Seton Hall.
- The Toreros opened up the season with two players (Tunbridge and Rhoades) recording a three-point game in back-to-back games, doing so for the first time since 2019 (Miguel Berry and Jacob Planell).
To stay up to date with Toreros men's soccer, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDmsoccer".
