Ethan Ndachi (@EthanNdachi) – Content editor | SJSU men’s soccer stand for the national anthem before its game against Stanford on Sept. 17 (Photo by Niles Hall – Content editor)
The San Jose State men’s soccer team’s conference run comes to a close this Sunday when they take on Air Force Academy at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
As of right now, the Spartans sit fifth in the WAC standings with eight points, while the Falcons are at the bottom of the table with one point.
SJSU’s run this season has been something to celebrate, boasting an overall record of 9-3-4 and going 2-2-2 in the WAC conference.
SJSU will need a win over Air Force to seal its entry into the WAC tournament, anything less would rely on University of Nevada, Las Vegas or Utah Valley to pick up defeats in their respective conference fixtures.
The Spartans have defeated the Falcons in their last two seasons, and will look to add another win to the record books on an all important senior night.
“We got to play our best game,” associate head coach Jesus Sanchez said. “And trust that we have enough quality that if we do that, we can get the positive result and extend our season one more game.”
Senior midfielder Angel Iniguez earned himself WAC Offensive Player of the Week, alongside a placement in Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week, off the back of a strong showing vs UNLV on Oct. 26.
Iniguez has been a force in conference play, scoring five goals and assisting two in the Spartans six WAC conference fixtures.
“I think it shows the collective effort from the team,” Iniguez said. “UNLV had three different goal scorers and shows how now we can score from different ways.”
Iniguez’s WAC player of the week award would mark the seventh overall for the Spartans this season, extending the program’s all-time record.
Previous winners of the award for the 2025 season include senior defender Javier Lopez, redshirt senior goalkeeper Edgar Guerra twice, sophomore forward Arnold Matshazi, junior midfielder Gilberto Rivera and junior defender Ruben Flores-Thomas.
Matshazi, who’s been the top goalscorer for the Spartans this season and third overall in the WAC, has relished the new challenges in the crunch part of his first season with the Spartans.
“It becomes harder for us as attacking players, we play a lot more lower blocks,” Matshazi said. “I was thankful I was able to get a goal.”
Sunday’s game at home will be extra special for the Englishmen, a victory and goal would be better than anything giftwrapped.
“Sunday’s my birthday,” Matshazi said. “I’m on nine goals, I always wanted to get 10 so it’s going to be a good opportunity to do so.”
The Spartans will be without junior midfielder Angel Fernandez, due to a suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. Fernandez has played in all 16 of the games for the season, and started 15.
“He’s been one of our MVP’s this season,” Sanchez said. “He sets the tone in so many different ways and it’s going to be a big miss.”
Fernandez’s miss won’t phase the Spartans however, the team has banged the drum of quality depth all season.
Freshman Fernando Duarte has been praised heavily by SJSU’s coaching staff, and trusted to fill the gap left by Rivera during his own suspension. Filling multiple roles in the middle of the park in 10 appearances this season, fans might expect the San Lorenzo native to take over for another absence in midfield once again.
While not just having depth in quality but also in character, the men’s soccer team’s journey this season has been one to remember.
“We’re probably the closest group we’ve ever had, in terms of their chemistry on and off the field,” assistant coach Jamie Reid said. “You see with our out-of-conference record, and now coming into the business end. I think that’s evidence to see the boys are willing to work one to 90 minutes.”
There is no question of the Spartans’ motivation to advance to the WAC tournament in Riverside, nothing but a win is to be accepted by the group.
“As a team we’re ready, we’re gonna work hard and we’re gonna play hard,” Matshazi said.
The match will also be a final farewell at home for head coach Simon Tobin, who will retire at the end of his 12th season here at SJSU. Tobin has 42 wins at the ground, and would most certainly like to leave with another, and a chance to compete for the coveted WAC Championship.
The Spartans will attempt to take WAC qualification into their own hands with a win against the Air Force Falcons this Sunday, 1 p.m. at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
