Aug. 27, 2002
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BULLDOGS OPEN SEASON AT HOME: Gonzaga University's men's soccer team opens the regular season at home Friday when Oregon State University visits for a 4 p.m. match on Martin Field. The match will be the first of three straight home matches to open the season, Gonzaga hosting the Nike Soccer Classic Sept. 6 featuring the University of Wisconsin, Air Force Academy and Oregon State.
HOME, SWEET HOME: Friday's match against Oregon State University will be the first time Gonzaga University has opened the season at home since 1999 when the University of Washington tied the Bulldogs 2-2. Eighth-year head coach Einar Thorarinsson is 1-1-1 in previous season home openers since arriving at Gonzaga in 1995. The Bulldogs lost to Cal Poly 4-2 in 1995 and defeated Whitman College 8-0 in 1997 in addition to the 1997 tie with the Huskies.
BULLDOGS DROP EXHIBITION: Gonzaga University dropped a 3-2 decision to Seattle University last Friday on Martin Field in an exhibition contest. The Bulldogs didn't start three regulars - forward Arni Ingi Pjetursson, midfielder Scott Yuska and defender Tryggvi Bjornsson. Pjetursson and Bjornsson didn't arrive from Iceland until Tuesday night, and Yuska was nursing a sore leg. The Redhawks built a 1-0 halftime lead and increased the lead to 3-1 before the Bulldogs scored with 19 seconds to play.
THORARINSSON ON EXHIBITION: "I think it was a wakeup call for us," Gonzaga University head coach Einar Thorarinsson said of last Friday's exhibition setback. "I thought we dominated played for the first 15 minutes, but we just couldn't convert some good opportunities. I think that's what concerned me the most is we weren't able to score early, but Seattle University carried the play for the final 25 minutes of the half. I thought we came back in the second half with more focus, but our defense still wasn't as solid as would have liked." Seattle out shot Gonzaga 14-10, including 9-4 in the first half.
VETERANS RETURN: Gonzaga University returns a host of veterans this season, including a trio of senior defenders in keeper Mike McCarthy and defenders Tryggvi Bjornsson and Matt Prichard. Plus, the defense also has depth with Kerry Miike and Charles Wells, and four solid freshmen recruits who will vie for time. Offensively the Bulldogs return forward Arni Ingi Pjetursson as the "go-to" guy. He paced the Bulldogs last season with five goals and 13 points. Scott Yuska and Connor Quinn give the Bulldogs experience in the midfield, and Thorarinsson will also look to freshmen for depth.
RANKED TEAMS ON SCHEDULE: Five teams on Gonzaga University's 2002 schedule have cracked the pre-season rankings, including Clemson University, ranked 8th in the Soccer America op 25 and 9th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Top 25. The Bulldogs will meet the Tigers Sept. 27 in the Nike Soccer Invitational in Clemson, SC. Furman University, Gonzaga's second-day opponent in the Clemson tourney, is ranked 13th by Soccer America and 21st by NSCAA/adidas. Three West Coast Conference schools are ranked - the University of San Diego 20th by Soccer America and 24th by NSCAA/adidas; the University of Portland 15th by Soccer America and Santa Clara University 24th by Soccer America. SCU visits Martin Field Oct. 20, while the Bulldogs travel to USD on Nov. 1 and end the regular season Nov. 16 at Portland.
2001 COLLEGE CUP: After being by-passed for at-large bids in 1998 and 2000, Gonzaga University made its inaugural College Cup appearance last season. After knotting the University of Portland for second place in the West Coast Conference, the Bulldogs and Pilots were sent to Husky Field in Seattle for a first-round showdown. Portland avenged a 1-0 regular-season setback to the Bulldogs with a 1-0 College Cup victory on the rain-drenched University of Washington field.
BAR IS RAISED: Gonzaga University head coach Einar Thorarinsson said the bar has been raised as a result of the Bulldogs making the College Cup field in 2001. "The bar has been raised, and the expectation has been raised for the returning players who have been frustrated so much in the past. But we have so many young guys that weren't part of that frustration that now see only how high the bar has been raised and that's different from past years," Thorarinsson said of the Bulldogs missing out on at-large bids in 1998 and 2000.
BULLDOGS VS. THE BEAVERS: Oregon State University holds a 13-6-2 edge in the series with Gonzaga University. Gonzaga won the last meeting, 4-1 in Corvallis, Ore., in 2000, and the Bulldogs have taken three of the last four meetings.
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS: Oregon State University just returned from a 12-day, seven-match tour of Costa Rica, finishing the tour 3-4 against professional and national teams from Costa Rica. The Beavers return junior keeper Peter Billmeyer who played every minute in last season's 5-12-0 campaign. He recorded a 1.81 GAA. Senior midfielder/forward Aaron McHardy paced OSU in scoring last season with 10 goals and 3 assists for 23 points. Junior ChristvanBlommestein leads the OSU defense. The Beavers return 15 letterwinners and four starters from a year ago.
THE THORARINSSON TALE OF THE TAPE: Gonzaga University head coach Einar Thorarinsson is 69-43-8 in his eighth season with the Bulldogs. His overall record is 188-95-21 that includes nine seasons across town at Whitworth College. Since going 3-10-2 in his first season of 1995, the Bulldogs have not had a losing season under Thorarinsson. His teams led the West Coast Conference in wins with a 14-4-0 record in 1997 and 12-4-2 mark in 1998, captured WCC co-championships in each of those seasons.
