No. 15 UW Begins Pac-12 Play With SDSU, UCLA
September 30, 2015 | Men's Soccer
What To Look For
No. 15 Washington (4-1-3) begins Pac-12 play this weekend hosting San Diego State and UCLA for a pair of games on the Pac-12 Networks. The Dawgs host San Diego State (5-1-2) on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. and the Bruins (4-4-0) on Sunday at 7:05 p.m.
Previous Matchups
The Dawgs see both the Aztecs and the Bruins twice a season with the current Pac-12 format and have a 14-4-7 all-time record with San Diego State and a 12-28-3 mark against UCLA. Since Jamie Clark took over in 2011, the Huskies are undefeated against SDSU with a record of 7-0-1, while the Dawgs are just 1-6-1 against UCLA. It is the only team in the conference that Clark has a losing record against.
On The Offensive
The Dawgs have scored just nine goals in eight games so far and four have come on penalty kicks. James Moberg leads the Huskies with three goals, all on PK's, while Quentin Pearson has two, both coming on headers off corner kicks. The Huskies did show one of their best offensive performances their last time out against Portland, totaling 32 shots, including nine on goal, although none found the back of the net.
Defensive Efforts
The Huskies have been excellent so far defensively with six shutouts in eight games. The Washington record for shutouts is 14 set by the 1982 squad. Justin Schmidt leads a young group with freshman Quentin Pearson joining him at center back as that duo has played almost every minute of the year. Redshirt freshman Luke Hauswirth and sophomore Justin Fiddes have been the outside backs, although Jose Ocampo and Steven Wright have also seen time out there. Last year's starters Michael Gallagher has moved up the field from center back to a holding midfield role, while Andy Thoma is gone, having graduated and drafted by the Portland Timbers of MLS in the second round.
In Net
Ryan Herman has five shutouts already this season, while the UW single-season record is 14 by Mark Schuur back in 1982. Herman has returned 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. For his career, the redshirt senior now has 13 shutouts. Herman has a 19-3-6 record in his career as the Huskies starter and serves as captain. Auden Schilder has also seen time this season, starting at Drexel and earning the shutout and win.
Scouting San Diego State
San Diego State finished 7-12 last season, going 1-9 in Pac-12 conference play. This year, they are off to a 5-1-2 start. The Aztecs are coming off of a 1-0 victory in double overtime at Pacific, where sophomore midfielder Ernest Reyes scored the game-winner and first goal of his career. Redshirt senior Rene Reyes leads the team with 11 points on four goals and three assists. On the season, the Aztecs have outshot opponents 119-57. Junior Matt Callahan, who leads the team with three assists and has tallied one goal, anchors the defense.
Scouting UCLA
UCLA opened this season ranked No.1 after losing in penalty kicks (4-2) to Virginia in the National Championship last year. The Bruins opened the season with a win 1-0 win over New Mexico, before falling three straight matches against then No.6 Maryland, No.12 Georgetown and UC Riverside and out of the rankings. Most recently, UCLA pulled off a come from behind win after being down to 10 men and three goals behind in the second half to beat UC Irvine 4-3. The Bruins leading scorer is sophomore forward Seyi Adekoya, who has tallied 12 points on six goals so far this season. Freshman midfielder Jackson Yueill and sophomore forward Abu Danladi are tied for the team lead with three assists each.
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 and Josh Heard are the active leaders for Washington in goals with 13.
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 entered as the favorite as the Bruins made the NCAA Final last year and were preseason No. 1, but are off to a slow start. Stanford is the defending conference champion and currently ranked No. 3 in the country. Washington is the other ranked team at No. 15, while California and Oregon State are receiving votes.
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.
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 56-16-12 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.
