Oct. 1, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

BULLDOGS OPEN WCC PLAY ON ROAD: Idle since September 20, Gonzaga University's men's soccer team returns to action this week to open West Coast Conference play on the road. The Bulldogs will be in Moraga, Calif., Friday to face Saint Mary's College, then venture across the bay to Santa Clara University to face the Broncos Sunday.

BULLDOGS HAVE WIN TAKEN AWAY: Gonzaga University had a win taken off its schedule due to a ruling by the NCAA recently. The Bulldogs' match with Trinity Western University of Langley, British Columbia, cannot count toward Gonzaga's RPI or season statistics, according to the NCAA. Since Trinity Western is not a member of the NCAA or does not play at least 50 percent of its schedule against NCAA squads, the Bulldogs are unable to count that match as part of the regular season. Thus, all team and individual statistics from that match have been removed from Gonzaga's season statistics. Gonzaga's record is now reflected as being 3-2-2 heading into the West Coast Conference openers this weekend.

A SPLIT AT NEW MEXICO: The last Gonzaga University was on the pitch was Sept. 18-20 at the Nike/TLC Plumbing and Utilities Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico. The Bulldogs won their opening match 2-1 in overtime against Binghamton University of New York, Nick Love getting the match winner at 91:29 after Tye Perdido's shot was stopped by the keeper but the rebound came out to Love. The Bulldogs lost the title match to the host Lobos 3-0. Perdido, Love and defender Nick Barclay were named to the All-Tournament team.

CONFERENCE PLAY ALL THE WAY: Gonzaga University has completed its non-conference slate and will play nothing but West Coast Conference matches the remainder of the season. The Bulldogs have three of their first five WCC matches on the road, but conversely will finish with three of their final five at home.

RETURNING HOME: Following this weekend's road matches Gonzaga University will return home for the first time since Sept. 13 when they host Loyola Marymount University Oct. 9 and the University of San Diego Oct. 11 in the WCC home openers. Gonzaga has not played at home since winnings its Gonzaga/Nike Soccer Classic Sept. 11-13 with victories over Georgia Southern University and the University of Detroit Mercy.

NATIONAL RANKINGS: Ohio State University and the University of Portland are the current ranked teams on Gonzaga University's schedule. OSU is as high as 11th, UP as high as 18th in this week's rankings.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: When Gonzaga University faces Saint Mary's College Friday in the West Coast Conference opener, the Bulldogs will be facing A Gaels squad which is ranked 10th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Far West rankings. Two other WCC schools are ranked, the University of Portland fifth and Loyola Marymount University 9th.

ZAGS VS. GAELS: Gonzaga University is winless in its last three outings with Saint Mary's College. The teams tied 1-1 in double overtime in last year's first meeting at Gonzaga, then the Gaels put any hopes the Bulldogs had of a winning the WCC title with a 4-0 victory in Moraga in the regular-season finale. The teams battled to a scoreless double-overtime tie in Spokane in 2007 after the Bulldogs had taken the first meeting that year at SMC 1-0, the Bulldogs fourth straight win over the Gaels. Gonzaga leads the overall series 10-8-3.

BULLDOGS VS. BRONCOS: For the first time since round-robin play began in 2004 Gonzaga University swept the season series from Santa Clara University last season, taking a 2-1 overtime victory in Spokane and a 3-2 verdict at SCU. The Bulldogs, who trail the all-time series 10-8-3, are 4-1-2 against the Broncos in the last seven meetings dating back to 2005. Prior to that SCU had won four straight in the series.

THORARINSSON HITS, PASSES 50: We're not talking age, but rather the number of West Coast Conference wins for Gonzaga University head coach Einar Thorarinsson, who got WCC victories 50 and 51 last season. That makes him the fourth winningest coach in WCC matches and the second winningest active coach in the WCC ranks behind Seamus McFadden of the University of San Diego who leads both categories with 81 victories in 29 years at the helm.

THE STATS: Senior Tye Perdido has three goals this season to give him 18 in his career and knot him with current Gonzaga University assistant coach Mike Thompson (1996-99) for fifth on the all-time Gonzaga charts. Perdido has climbed to sixth on the career points list with 44. Thompson is right ahead of him on that list, too, with 52. Ben Funkhouser's nine career assists leave him one shy of cracking the Gonzaga Top 10. (NOTE: These numbers reflect the Trinity Western University match being removed from Gonzaga's statistics).

BARNUM HOT: Senior keeper Scott Barnum has started all seven matches this season and has a 0.95 GAA. He has allowed no more than one goal in six of the matches and has a pair of shutouts to his credit, giving him four shutouts in his two-year Gonzaga University career.

ON THE WEB: All Gonzaga University home matches will be available on video through the CBS College Sports Online All-Access subscription service available at http://wwww.gozags. Gametracker will be available free of charge through the Gonzaga website for all home matches. Check the schedule and All-Access page at http://www.gozags.com for video and Gametracker of away matches.