#DixieMSOC Week 2 Game Notes

DIXIE STATE AT UCSD, CSUSB STORYLINES

So. California road trip: Dixie State, off of a home opening draw against Cal Poly Pomona, hits the road for a pair of non-conference matches against two of the top CCAA clubs, UC San Diego and Cal State San Bernardino. DSU faces the Tritons on Thursday night and the Coyotes on Saturday morning.

Preseason ranks: Coming off a two-win season, Dixie State was selected to finish 12th in the PacWest Preseason coaches poll. In the CCAA preseason look, UCSD was tabbed in the fifth spot while CSUSB landed ninth.

What have UCSD, CSUSB done: UC San Diego opened at home last week with a split against two GNAC teams – defeating Saint Martin's, 2-1 and losing to Western Washington, 1-0. CSUSB picked up a pair of win against PacWest team on the road – downing ART U, 4-1 and Dominican, 2-1 in overtime.

The early attackers: Nine of the Red Storm's 13 shots against Cal Poly Pomona last Saturday came from three starters on the attack line. Freshman Frank Mallek (Yuma, AZ/Kofa) led DSU with four shots, including two on goal. JC transfer Santiago Alejandro (Oakley, CA/Alhambra) had three shots and sophomore Sean Jenne (Las Vegas, NV/Centennial) added two. Jara Eshete (Stansbury, UT/Stansbury) also had two shots coming off the bench.

Seniors on defense: Dixie State has five seniors on the roster including the leading returning goal scorer in Erik Shallenberger (Las Vegas, NV/Arbor View). He and Nadav Elimelech (Las Vegas, NV/Spring Valley) moved back to the back line with fellow seniors David Stirland (Hurricane, UT/Hurricane) and Dominic Torres (Mountain Home, ID/Mountain Home). Spencer Anderson (Glendale, AZ/Mountain View), coming off a 110-minute shutout, tends the net as the fifth returning senior.

Returners back in starting role: Two former players returned to the starting eleven after sabbaticals. Ethan VandenBosch (South Ogden, UT/Bonneville) is back for his sophomore campaign after serving a two-year LDS church mission. Also returning is sophomore Michael Ropelato (Roy, UT/Roy), who went to school last year at Weber State after playing his freshman year at DSU in 2012.

Ortiz at the helm: Danny Ortiz (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron) is in year seven as head coach. He is 34-61-10 in his tenure at Dixie State.