Sept. 13, 2000

BULLDOGS FACE RANKED TITANS: Gonzaga University will gets its first taste of nationally-ranked competition when the Bulldogs open the Fila Cup hosted by Loyola Marymount University with a showdown Friday against Cal State-Fullerton. The Titans moved up four spots in each of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and College Soccer News Media polls. Cal State-Fullerton (4-0-0) is up to 7th in the NSCAA voting and is ranked 13th in the College Soccer News Media balloting.

FOES HIGH IN REGIONAL RANKINGS: This week's opponents in the Fila Cup at Loyola Marymount University are both ranked high in their respective Regional Rankings as released by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Cal State-Fullerton is second in the Far West behind UCLA, while Michigan State University is sixth in this week's Great Lakes balloting behind Indiana University. Four West Coast Conference teams are also ranked in this week's Far West poll - University of Portland (3rd), University of San Diego (6th), Santa Clara University (8th) and LMU (9th). Portland, San Diego and SCU are also nationally ranked.

BULLDOGS VERSUS RANKED TEAMS: Gonzaga University went 4-3-1 against nationally-ranked teams in 1999, including a 1-0 victory over then top-ranked Creighton University on the BlueJays home field. The Bulldogs also faced No. 1 Santa Clara University last season and fell 1-0. Gonzaga is 10-12-2 overall against Top 25 teams since 1991, including 4-6-1 when facing a Top 10 team. The Bulldogs also topped No. 4 University of San Diego 4-2, No. 7 Stanford University 3-1 and No. 5 University of Virginia 3-2 last season in addition to the victory over Creighton.

UNDEFEATED SPARTANS ALSO ON WEEKEND SLATE: Michigan State University brings its undefeated slate to Los Angeles for the Fila Cup. The Spartans face host Loyola Marymount University in Friday's 3 p.m. nightcap, then meet Gonzaga University in Sunday's 12:30 p.m. match. The Spartans won a pair of road matches last week to improve to 4-0-0, downing Robert Morris University 2-0 and Cleveland State University 3-2.

SCOUTING CAL STATE-FULLERTON: Cal State-Fullerton went 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the Pacific Division of the Mountain Pacific Soccer Federation a year ago, and spent a good portion of the season ranked in the Top 25. But the Titans failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Seven starters and two other regulars return from last year's team, which was knocked out of post-season play by a pair of late 2-1 losses to Virginia and UCLA. The offense returns leading scorer Duncan Oughton (9 goals, 4 assists) and runner-up Shaun Higgins (8 goals, 3 assists). Art Ramirez (6 goals, 3 assists) hopes to bring his instant offense off the bench again for his senior year. Defensively, the Titans may have their best team in recent years. There is depth in the nets with the 1999 tandem of Scott Alexander (12-5) and Josh Saunders (2-0) expected to back up 2-year (1997-98) starter Sean Rockwell, who missed last season with an August knee injury. Rockwell made his first start of the season in last Sunday's 4-1 win over the University of Buffalo in the Cal-Irvine Tournament. Defender Ray Ramirez, a first-team All-MPSF Pacific Division selection and member of the U.S. Under-21 team, makes it difficult to get near the Titans' scoring box, and he has veteran help in 2-year starter Brad Dunaway and 3-year veteran Kris Hulgreen. Matt Terry, who missed most of his freshman season with an injury, also will see a lot of playing time on the back line.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE: Michigan State University is looking for big things in 2000, and appear to be on the right track with a 4-0-0 start. The Spartans were 9-9-1 a year ago, but 1-4-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Of the four losses, only one was by more than one goal - a 2-0 setback to NCAA champion Indiana University. With a combination of 13 seniors and juniors returning, the Spartans have high hopes for not only a winning season but for a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Senior keeper T.J. Lieckfelt has started 51 games over the past three seasons with a career goals-against-average of 1.44. In 1999, he posted four shutouts while teaming on a fifth with Tyler Robinson. Lieckfelt recorded a 2-0 shutout last Friday over Robert Morris University. Injuries hampered the Spartans' offense a year ago. Senior Steve Williford played in only 14 matches a year ago, and junior Brett Konley returns after suffering a broken leg in the 12th match of '99. Konley was the leading scorer at the time of his season-ending injury. Williford contributed his first goal of the season in last Friday's win over Robert Morris. Leading the way defensively is senior sweeper John Benoist, who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 1999, becoming only the fourth Spartan to accomplish that feat. He also led the team with six goals out of the back line.

NEUTRAL SPLIT: Gonzaga University split its two matches in the Diadora Cup hosted by the University of San Diego last weekend, leveling its record at 2-2-0. The Bulldogs fell to Oakland University of Rochester, Mich., 2-1 and downed Columbia University by the same score. The Zags scored both of their goals in a span of 41 seconds late in the second half for the come-from-behind victory over Columbia. Senior forward Brian Ching took a cross off a free kick by Abbas Faridnia and headed it in past CU goalie Mike Ewers for the game-winner at 75:19, his third goal of the season. Gonzaga had knotted the score at 74:38 when senior midfielder Jason Kuska took advantage of a misplay by Ewers in front of the net and converted for his third goal of the year. Ching had drawn Gonzaga even against Oakland with his header at 70:58, but Anders Vollen scored his second goal of the night at 71:14 for the winner.