CSUN Opens 45th Season of Men's Soccer at Ohio State This Week

WHAT'S COMING UP FOR CSUN MEN'S SOCCER
MATCH 1
CSUN at Ohio State
Thursday, Aug. 24 • 4 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio. • Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium •
Live Stats // Big 10+

MATCH 2
CSUN vs. Dayton
Sunday, Aug. 27 • 10 a.m.
Columbus, Ohio. • Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium •
Live Stats

IN-GAME UPDATES @CSUNMensSoccer

NOTEBOOK

KICK OFF
CSUN opens its 45th men's soccer campaign at the Ohio State Wolstein Classic this week.

The Matadors face the host Buckeyes Thursday at 4 p.m. PDT on Big 10+. CSUN concludes the weekend Sunday morning at 10 a.m. PDT against Dayton at Ohio State. Links to the coverage will be on GoMatadors.com.

CSUN holds a record of 28-14-2 in its season openers.

ABOUT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State went 11-3-6, tied for second in the Big Ten, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Laurence Wootton leads the Buckeyes. A first-team All-Big Ten selection in each of the last three seasons. He also was named the league's Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2022. He also is on the preseason United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch List for 2023.

The Buckeyes received four votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and were chosen third in the preseason Big 10 Coaches Poll. Wootton, Deylen Vellios, and Anthony Samways were named to the preseason All-Conference team.

CSUN scored four second-half goals to overcome a 2-0 first-half deficit to defeat Ohio State 4-3 during the 2019 Wolstein Classic in the only previous meeting between the two clubs.

ABOUT THE FLYERS
Dayton went 10-2-5 in 2022, advancing to the Atlantic 10 semis before falling 3-1 in penalty kicks to St. Louis. The Flyers were tabbed to finish second in the preseason A-10 Coaches Poll.

Basit Umar was chosen as a Midfielder to Watch by The United Soccer Coaches in the preseason. The 2022 A-10 Rookie of the Year, he was also named All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches a year ago.

Dario Caetano, a preseason All-Atlantic 10 selection, played every minute in goal a year ago, making 44 saves, recording seven shutouts, and posting a 0.86 goals-against average.

CSUN is playing for the third time, with the Matadors holding a 1-0-1 all-time series lead. CSUN defeated the Flyers 3-1 during the 2019 Wolstein Classic in the last meeting between the teams.

RICKETS EARNS PRESEASON HONORS
CSUN's Jamar Ricketts was named to the Big West Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Team, while the Matadors were selected third in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Aug. 17.

Ricketts, named a forward to watch by the United Soccer Coaches earlier in the preseason, was chosen first-team All-Conference and second-team United Coaches All-Far West Region a year ago. The Montclair, N.J. native led the team in goals (5), points (13), and shots (34) last season. He finished the regular season ninth in the Big West in goals and shots. Ricketts tied for second on the squad in assists (3). He ended the regular season 17th in Division I in game-winning goals (3).

CSUN PICKED THIRD
CSUN was picked third in the preseason Big West Coaches poll released Aug. 17.

UC Santa Barbara (three first-place votes) was ranked first (72) in the preseason poll by the conference's 10 coaches.

UC Riverside earned the most first-place votes, with four on the way to being selected second. CSUN received two first-place votes and 63 points to earn third.

UC Irvine gained the final first-place vote for 62 points and fourth in the poll. Sacramento State and UC Davis (42) tied for fifth, followed by Cal State Fullerton (38), UC San Diego (33), Cal Poly (20), and Cal State Bakersfield (9).

~#GoMatadors~

CSUN Opens 45th Season of Men's Soccer at Ohio State This Week

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Players Mentioned

Jamar Ricketts