The Oregon State men’s soccer team is set to play its final game of the 2023 regular season this Saturday, facing off against the Portland Pilots at Merlo Field in what promises to be an exciting encounter.
This matchup will be crucial for the Beavers, as a win could potentially secure them the West Coast Conference title. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, with live statistics available at OSUBeavers.com.
After Saturday’s game, Oregon State will eagerly await the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m.
For the Beavers to clinch the WCC title, they need a victory against Portland along with an LMU win or tie against San Diego. In the event that Oregon State wins and LMU and San Diego draw, the Beavers and the Toreros would be co-champions. However, if the Beavers and Toreros finish the season tied on points, San Diego would secure the conference’s automatic tournament bid due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Oregon State’s standout player, Solans, leads the WCC with an impressive 13 goals this season, ranking him seventh in the nation. His teammate, Arnau Farnos, closely follows, sitting second in the conference with nine goals.
The Beavers have three players among the top five in total points within the WCC this season. Solans tops the list with 28 points, while Farnos is right behind with 21. Fabian Straudi ranks fourth in the conference with 16 total points.
Solans has made headlines this season with two hat tricks, becoming just the second Beaver ever to achieve this feat in a single season, joining Rick Kempf from 1990. Additionally, Solans finds himself sixth on Oregon State’s single-season goals list.
Fabian Straudi has also been a key contributor, tallying 12 assists this year, placing him tied for second on Oregon State’s single-season list while also ranking second in the nation for assists.
Oregon State’s performances this season have been historic. They recently participated in their first-ever College Cup, reaching the men’s soccer final four for the first time. The Beavers entered the current season ranked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, marking their highest-ranking ever at the preseason stage.
Furthermore, Oregon State concluded the 2023 season ranked No. 4 in the nation, a record-high season-ending position for the program. Currently, the Beavers sit at No. 21 in this week’s Top Drawer Soccer rankings.
At the beginning of the season, Oregon State was favored in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, securing four of eight possible first-place votes. Additionally, Fran Cortijo, Arnau Farnos, Ellis Spikner, and Dante Williams earned spots on the WCC Preseason Team.
Looking ahead, the Beaver men’s soccer squad is one of ten OSU programs slated to compete in the West Coast Conference beginning in fall 2024, marking a significant transition for the team.
This season, the roster features 13 newcomers, contributing to the dynamic composition of the team. Alejandro Silva has been recognized on the United Soccer Coaches’ Midfielders to Watch List for his promising performance.
Over the past seven MLS SuperDrafts, a total of ten Beavers have been selected, including three in the upcoming 2024 draft. Highlighting this year’s picks, Logan Farrington stood out by going No. 3 overall to FC Dallas.
The players of Oregon State hail from seven different countries: the United States, Spain, Uganda, Argentina, Germany, Italy, and Trinidad and Tobago, representing four continents: North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.
Head coach Greg Dalby has made a notable impact in his first year, becoming the second coach in Oregon State history to lead the team to the postseason in his debut season. His tally of 11 victories ties him for the most wins by an OSU head coach in a first season.
The Beavers and Pilots have faced each other 28 times, with six meetings occurring in just the last four seasons. In their two matches last year, the teams split wins, with Oregon State returning victorious at Merlo Field in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, thanks to a goal from Andrew De Gannes.
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