Aug. 30, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

BULLDOGS OPEN AGAINST CANADIAN NEIGHBORS: Gonzaga University's men's soccer team will open the 2009 regular season Tuesday when Trinity Western University visits Gonzaga Soccer Field for a 4 p.m. kickoff. TWU is located in Langley, British Columbia, which is located in greater Vancouver, B.C. The Bulldogs will then head to Columbus, Ohio, for the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic hosted by Ohio State University. Gonzaga will play the host Buckeyes Friday at 4:30 p.m. PST and face Penn State University Sunday at 9 a.m. PST.

NOT STRANGERS: Gonzaga University and Trinity Western University aren't strangers, the two teams having played exhibition contests three times in recent years. The two clubs have also hooked up for spring matches. But this is the first time the result will count on the Gonzaga record. The Bulldogs have claimed all three exhibition matches - 3-1 in 2006, 4-0 in 2007 and 3-0 last season. All three were played at Gonzaga, with last year's contest on Mulligan Field to allow the grass on the newly-constructed Gonzaga Soccer Field.

STRONG DEFENSE RETURNS: A strong defense returns to the fold this season, led by 2008 West Coast Conference Defender of the Year Nick Barclay, the inaugural Gonzaga University recipient of the award. The senior native of Boise, Idaho, helped the Bulldogs holds opponents to one goal or less in 10 of their 19 matches last season. Senior Tim Muravez also returns on defense after earning All-WCC honorable mention honors a year ago. Mitch Boland, a member of the WCC All-Freshman team last season, brings a wealth of youthful experience to the defense. PLENTY OF OFFENSE: Newly-wed Tye Perdido and the rest of the Gonzaga University look to gain momentum from 2008. The Bulldogs return nine players who contributed 27 of the 28 goals they scored a year ago, led by Perdido, a senior forward who married the former Samantha (Sam) Hara this past July. Perdido had a team-leading 8 goals and 19 points. Senior midfielder Ben Funkhouser is back after getting 3 goals, a team-high 6 assists and 12 points for second on the squad. Nick Love, who missed three matches with a broken hand and started two of 16 appearances, had 4 goals and 9 points, while defender Tim Muravez had 3 goals and 7 points in 2008.

KEEPER BATTLE: Two keepers who played a year ago are battling for the starting spot this season. Senior Scott Barnum started 17 matches and posted a 1.49 GAA, while redshirt sophomore Andrew Hickman had a pair of starts among his three appearances and a 2.78 GAA last year. Redshirt Jeff Renslo, who was at the open tryout a year ago but did not make the squad, attended Gonzaga last season and is on the team this season. Freshman Ryan Caballero gives the Bulldogs four keepers. Thorarinsson said Barnum and Hickman will split the duty in Tuesday's season opener against Trinity Western University, and he plans to alternate the two keepers through the first couple of weeks of the season to see who will emerge as No. 1.

BULLDOGS VS. BUCKEYES, NITTANY LIONS: Gonzaga University will be facing Ohio State University and Penn State University for the first time when the Bulldogs head to Columbus, Ohio, following Tuesday's regular-season home opener. Gonzaga has played just two Big Ten Conference teams in its history - holding a 1-0-0 advantage against Michigan State University and going 0-3-0 against the University of Wisconsin, the latter the last Big Ten team the Bulldogs played in 2007.

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 79 victories in 28 years at the helm.

THE STATS: Senior Tye Perdido enters his final season tied for eighth with Arni Ingi Pjetursson (2001-04) on the Gonzaga University career goals chart with 15, and his 37 points knot him for ninth with Abbas Faridnia (1998-01). Ben Funkhouser's 6 assists tie him for sixth on the single-season list and his 9 career assists are one shy of cracking the top 10.

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.

SEASON FAMILY PASS AVAILABLE: Family passes for Gonzaga University soccer are on sale for $50 through the Bulldog ticket office. Each pass admits two adults and up to four youth to all men's and women's home soccer matches throughout the 2009 season. Call (509) 313-6000 for more information or visit the Bulldog website at http://www.gozags.com/tickets.

POSTER GIVEAWAY TUESDAY: Schedule posters will be available for all fans attending Tuesday's Gonzaga University home opener. It's also a Wendy's Student Rewards match for Bulldog students. GU students can accumulate points by attending athletic contests throughout the course of the school year and be eligible for prizes.