Dawgs Open At Home With Gonzaga, UC Davis
August 27, 2015 | Men's Soccer
Pac-12 Networks | Davis Webcast | Gonzaga Live Stats | Davis Live Stats | Tickets | Notes
SEATTLE -- No. 10 Washington opens the regular season this week by hosting Gonzaga and UC Davis. The Bulldogs come to Husky Soccer Field on Friday at 7 p.m. for a game broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks with J.B. Long and Aly Wagner on the call. Sunday, the Huskies host UC Davis at 7:30 p.m. for a match that is webcast only.
Previous Matchups
Washington has had more success against Gonzaga than any other school in their history with a 26-1-1 record all-time. The Huskies have defeated Gonzaga in each of the four seasons with Jamie Clark at the helm, including a 4-0 win in Spokane last season. Against UC Davis, Washington is 4-0-0 with the last match coming in 2010. That contest was won by the Dawgs, 1-0.
On The Offensive
The Huskies lost top scorer Darwin Jones to graduation and the Seattle Sounders of MLS, but still return players that scored 27 of 38 goals (71.1 percent) last season. Included in the returners are Josh Heard and Mason Robertson who each had seven goals last season. Heard had a goal and an assist in the exhibition match against Nebraska-Omaha, while Robertson was tabbed to the preseason 11-player All-Pac-12 Team. The offense will be bolstered by newcomers redshirt freshman Kyle Coffee and true freshman David Coly.
Defensive Efforts
The Husky backline is mostly in tact with the exception of Andy Thoma who graduated and was drafted by the Portland Timbers in the second round. Michael Gallagher returns at center back and will be joined by Quentin Pearson, the highly touted freshman from the Colorado Rapids Academy. Justin Schmidt leaves his role at center back that he manned the last two seasons to play left back or potentially higher up the field. Redshirt freshman Luke Hauswirth looks to take the right back role, while Justin Fiddes and Garret Jackson are also options along the backline after playing significant roles as true freshmen in 2014.
In Net
Ryan Herman returns to the starting role in goal after leading the Dawgs to the Elite Eight in 2013 when he stepped in for an injured Spencer Richey. Herman has a 16-2-3 record in his career as the Huskies starter and will serve as captain. Auden Schilder will back up Herman and is expected to play.
Scouting Gonzaga
Gonzaga finished 5-12-1 overall last season, going 3-3-1 in the West Coast Conference. This year, the Bulldogs return eight starters to their lineup, including three of their five leading scorers from last season. Junior Graison Le tied for the most points last year, posting seven on the season with two goals and three assists. Returning senior Conner Bevans and junior Jakob Granlund each had six points with two goals and two assists. Gonzaga was picked to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll.
Scouting UC Davis
UC Davis went 7-4-9 last season, including 5-3-2 in the Big West Conference. The Aggies return seven starters this season, including one of their leading scorers and two goalkeepers. Senior Lucas Mohageg tied for the team lead, posting ten points last season, tallying four goals and two assists. Returning redshirt senior goalkeeper Kris Schultz started eight games, with a 0.64 goals against average before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Armando Quezada had a 0.75 goals against average and five shutouts in 13 games last season, and was All-Big West Conference Honorable Mention. Two of the returners also include sophomores Evan Barrett and Miguel Acevedo, who were selected to the Big West Conference All-Freshman Team.
Record Watch
Midfielder James Moberg is already on the Husky top-10 list for assists with 21. He is currently tied for 10th and looks to ascend the list, which is led by Jason Boyce (1994-97) who hold the all-time Washington lead with 34 assists. Mason Robertson is the active leader for Washington in goals with 13, while Josh Heard has 12.
Returning All-Pac-12 Players
Washington has three players returning from the All-Pac-12 teams last season. James Moberg and Justin Schmidt were Second Team players, while Ian Lange was honorable mention. Before the year, the Pac-12 named a Preseason All-Pac-12 squad with Moberg and Mason Robertson being included.
Conference Of Champions
Washington looks to win its second Pac-12 title in three years, also claiming the crown in 2013. That was their first Pac-12 Championship since 2000 and second overall. This season UCLA enters as the favorite as the Bruins made the NCAA Final last year and are preseason No. 1. Stanford is the defending conference champion, while California and Oregon State are also contenders for the title.
NCAA Tournament History
Washington has played in three-straight NCAA Tournaments under Jamie Clark. The Dawgs defeated Air Force in the first round in 2012, before falling at Creighton as the Blue Jays went on to advance to the College Cup. In 2013, Washington defeated Seattle U. in the second round and Stanford in the third round after a first-round bye. The Dawgs fell 1-0 to New Mexico in the Elite 8. Last season, the Dawgs earned a bye and then knocked out Furman in the second round in penalty kicks. The Dawgs tied the Paladins 0-0 in regulation and then came from behind in the shootout to win 5-4 on the eighth shooter. The following week, Washington earned a 2-2 draw with Michigan State in East Lansing, but fell in penalty kicks. Overall, Washington is 11-20-4 in the NCAA Tournament after back-to-back Sweet 16 seasons. The Dawgs have now advanced to the Sweet 16 three times in program history with the other coming in 2003. The Elite 8 appearance in 2013 was the first ever for the Dawgs. Washington's first NCAA appearance came in 1968, a first round loss to San Francisco. The Dawgs had seven-straight first round exits, before earning their first NCAA victory in 1992 with a 2-1 victory over Portland in the opening round. 2013 also marked the first year Washington won multiple games in the NCAA Tournament.
Head Coach Jamie Clark
Jamie Clark took over reins of the Husky men's soccer program on Jan. 26, 2011. Now in his fifth season, Clark has led the Dawgs to a 53-16-11 record. Last season, Clark led the Dawgs back to the NCAA Tournament and a second-straight Sweet 16 run. In 2013, Clark led the Dawgs to the best season in program history. Washington finished 16-2-4, won the Pac-12 title and advanced to the first-ever Elite 8 after earning the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. In 2012, he guided Washington back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007, hosting Air Force in the NCAA First Round picking up a 1-0 win. The Dawgs would be eliminated the second round when Clark returned to face his former school, Creighton Clark came to Seattle after a very successful season at Creighton. The Blue Jays went 13-5-2 in 2010, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Clark began his head coaching career with instant success at Harvard, posting a 26-10-1 overall record during the 2008 and 2009 seasons while leading the Crimson to the NCAA Tournament both years. Prior to his time at Harvard, Clark was an assistant coach at Notre Dame for two seasons, working under his father, head coach Bobby Clark. Before going to Notre Dame, Clark was an assistant coach at New Mexico for four seasons (2002-05). Clark was a two-time All-American at Stanford, graduating in 1999. He played for his father, Bobby, from 1996 to 1998. As a senior in '98, he became the first first-team NCAA All-American in Cardinal men's soccer history.
