WEEK 7 MSOC GAME NOTES
 

DSU hosts Argos, Hawks at Hansen: The Dixie State Red Storm continues Pacific West Conference play at home this week against Notre Dame de Namur and Holy Names. The Storm faces the Argonauts on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. from Hansen Stadium. Then on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 p.m., DSU welcomes the Hawks for their first visit to St. George since joining the PacWest. Both matches will be televised online via SouthernUtahLive.com and live stats are available on the main and men's soccer schedule pages on DixieAthletics.com.

Last week in DSU men's soccer: Dixie State closed out their trip to the Hawaiian Islands with a pair of one-goal losses. The Storm could not hold on to a 3-2 lead late in Kaneohe, falling to Hawaii Pacific, 4-3. Michael Ropelato (Roy, UT/Roy), Sean Jenne (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) and Frank Mallek (Yuma, AZ/Kofa) had the goals for DSU. Last Saturday, UH Hilo scored late in the second half while holding the Red Storm to two official shots in a 1-0 win on the Big Island. Dixie State went 1-3 on the Hawaiian trip.

Scouting the Argos, Hawks: Notre Dame de Namur enters the week with a 6-4-1 record after winning four straight matches. The Argos opened last week with a road win, 2-1, at Dominican on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Hunter LeBlanc scored the game-winning goal and assisted on the opening score. NDNU would follow with a wild comeback win, 4-3, at home against Holy Names. Esteban Berumen scored twice and Adam Hughes put in the winning shot in the 81st minute. The Argonauts are currently the fourth highest scoring team in the conference, averaging 1.727 goals per game. They also are fourth best in goal allowed, conceding only 1.45 goals per game to their opponents. DSU is winless in eight tries against NDNU, losing in Belmont last year 2-0. Holy Names checks into play this week on a six-match losing streak to put their record at 2-8 overall. In the Hawks' only match last week, they could not hold on to a second half lead, falling to NDNU. Preseason PacWest Player of the Year Jamie Phillips had two of the HNU goals in the match with the Argos. Holy Names is the second highest scoring team in the league, averaging 2.22 goal per match. Conversely, they allow the most goals per game of any league team, averaging 2.67 goals against per game. The Storm is 0-2 all-time against HNU. Last year, DSU lost 3-1 in Northern California.

Looking ahead to California: Next week, Dixie State will hit the road for matches at Azusa Pacific and Point Loma. It will be the last road trip of the season before DSU closes with three home matches.

Ortiz at the helm: Danny Ortiz (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron) is in year seven as head coach. He is 35-67-10 in his tenure at Dixie State since the program's reinstatement in 2008. Ortiz also leads as Director of the Southern Utah Soccer Association and continues to work with Utah Youth Soccer Association on the State Coaching Education staff and as the Southern Utah Olympic Development Program Director.