By Ethan Ndachi (@EthanNdachi) – Content editor | SJSU men’s soccer walk on against Stanford on Sept. 17th (Photo by Niles Hall – Content Editor)
San Jose State men’s soccer starts WAC conference play this Saturday, off the back of a successful non-conference run of fixtures, with an overall record of 7-1-2.
SJSU’s start to the season was the best since 2001, and it was no surprise given the quality of the Spartans roster top to bottom.
“To put a non-conference play record like we did this year was really good,” associate head coach Jesus Sanchez said. “To be compared to that 2000 team that was excellent here at SJSU, is something for the boys to be proud of.”
The Spartans are currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak, only conceding three goals, with two being against the No. 3-ranked Stanford at the time.
“Our objective is not done, we don’t want to be the team that’s known for starting well but finishing bad,” Sanchez said. “Our objective this year is to start strong and finish strong.”
The Spartans have scored 17 goals so far this season, having only conceded seven, from 10 different goal scorers led by sophomore striker Arnold Matshazi.
Matshazi has had a smashing start to his SJSU career, having joined the Spartans last season but ineligible to play until this year. The Englishman has scored six goals for SJSU and is currently third on the list of WAC top goalscorers this season. His last goal, a beautiful winner vs UC Davis on Sept. 24th, won him WAC Offensive Player of the Week.
“I think it’s a testament to the team,” Matshazi said. “I was happy to be able to score the winning goal because I always want to help the team. Player of the week is just a moment, but I want to be able to keep it going the whole season.”
On the opposite side of the pitch, redshirt senior keeper Edgar Guerra is tied for first in the WAC for clean sheets, boasting six. The Spartans defense has shown time and time again that it can be relied on to keep them in the game.
“It’s not only me, it’s a collective effort,” Guerra said. “The guys are showing up and leaving everything on the field in the defense.”
Guerra has made 24 saves this season, and has a save percentage of 77.4% in net.
SJSU’s opponent on the weekend, California Baptist, will provide a strong test. The Lancers had a non-conference record of 5-1-2, scoring 16 goals while conceding nine.
“It’s going to be fun, we always love a challenge,” Matshazi said. “We always have to work hard, we know if we work hard off the ball then on the ball we can put something together.”
San Jose’s last win against Cal Baptist came in March of 2021 where they won 4-0, the result would also be SJSU’s only win in its history, leaving their record 1-1-5.
“We’ve been doing well, I think we’re ready for conference,” junior midfielder Gilberto Rivera said. “I think we’ll do good against CB.”
Rivera will help lead the charge from midfield, having opened the scoring in 10 minutes for SJSU last time out on the road against UC San Diego.
In the three years senior defender Niklas Dossmann has played for SJSU, this pre-conference form is the best he’s seen. Dossmann has started all 48 of his games for the Spartans and has overseen multiple WAC conference campaigns.
“I still don’t think we’ve hit our peak yet as a group, which is exciting.” Dossmann said. The captain highlighted that the underdog mentality held by the Spartans is what motivates them to bring out their best.
“We see each other as the undervalued guys who have gotten a second opportunity here at San Jose. If we keep the underdog mentality then we have a good chance at getting a lot of good results,” Dossman said.
The team will want to grace longtime head coach Simon Tobin with the WAC trophy, having come so close last season, prompting the hold-off on his exit.
“We want more, we want a ring, we want to go to the NCAA’s, and we’re capable of it,” Dossmann said. “I think we’d be disappointed with anything less than that.”
The Spartans will look to begin the WAC conference by knocking the Lancers of their horse this Saturday, 7 p.m back home at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
