2020-21 Men's Soccer Notebook (Week 1-2)

COMING UP: at Northwest Nazarene (Exhib.), Saturday, 3 p.m.; vs. Northwest Nazarene (Exhib.), 2/13, 7 p.m.

COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
 
WATCH LIVE: Saturday's exhibition opener will be broadcast live thanks to NNU's Vimeo Video Stream, with Live Stats available.
 
SPECTATOR POLICY / HOME BROADCAST INFORMATION: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The College of Idaho and the Cascade Conference have implemented a no spectator policy for all events at the current time. All C of I home matches will have Live Stats and Video available through the new Yotes Digital Network, with Mike Safford and Sven Alskog calling the action.
 
SPRING SEASON / NEW DIVISIONS: Six months later than normal, The College of Idaho soccer team will finally open the 2020 season – albeit in 2021 – as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Cascade Conference to move the fall season to the spring. The CCC will have 12 teams competing this spring (Evergreen and Walla Walla have opted ot of competition), with the circuit splitting into two divisions – with each division champion earning an automatic bid to the NAIA Championships. C of I will compete in the East Division – joining Carroll, Eastern Oregon, Multnomah, Providence and Rocky Mountain, with the schedule featuring weekend doubleheaders against the same opponent
 
UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Coyotes have been the benefactors of a construction project at Simplot Stadium, as the City of Caldwell has installed lights at the multipurpose venue. The lights have allowed C of I to practice later in the evening – along with improving scheduling – including the home exhibition opener vs. NNU, set for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT NORTHWEST NAZARENE: NNU has had a head start on the 2021 spring season, playing a pair of exhibition matches at Division I Grand Canyon, losing their opener, 5-1, but stunning the Lopes, 2-1, in their return match-up. The Nighthawks (7-11 in 2019) return the bulk of their team in Adam Pearce's second year as head coach, as keeper Alex Niederman (1.51 GAA, 39 saves) returns in net, while the NNU attack is paced by their leading scorers from a season ago, Jake Levine (9 goals, 3 assists) and Lorenzo Valentini (5 goals, 1 assist).
 
SERIES HISTORY: Since the Coyotes began their men's soccer program in 1984, C of I and NNU have met 61 times on the pitch, with the Yotes holding a commanding 42-16-3 edge. When both teams competed in the NAIA, the Yotes won nearly 80-percent of the match-ups, holding a 40-10-2 record, while since NNU made the move to the NCAA Division II, the Nighthawks have a 6-0-1 record, with C of I's last win a 3-1 victory in October of 2002.
 
IN EXHIBITIONS: The Coyotes have played three exhibition games in program history, searching for their first win. C of I met Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2015, losing 2-0, while dropping a 2-1 decision to NNU in 2016 and a 1-0 decision to NNU in 2018. In addition, C of I and NNU played four scrimmages – in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
 
POSITION PREVIEW: KEEPERS/DEFENDERS: Heading into the season, the Yotes are strong in goal, as the team will have two returners and a newcomer training to earn time in 2021. Three-year starter, Parker Billings, is back for his final campaign and is the veteran of the group. The senior has played in 37 career matches, posting a 1.75 goals against average and a .713 save percentage to his ledger. Junior Zac Dean has made the most of his opportunities, as the 6-foot-4 keeper is 3-0-1 in his four career starts, including shutout wins over Northwest and Multnomah. True freshman Drew Morris adds key depth at the position after winning a 5A state title as a senior at Eagle High and has the ability to also be a field player. The defensive third for the Coyotes will look a bit different this season – as two-time All-CCC pick and 4-year starter Lucas Schlake has graduated. However, the team returns juniors Andy Sanchez and Andrew Lauritzen, who have been starters throughout their careers. Sanchez, a 2018 All-CCC pick, will anchor the central defense and is key in limiting the opponents' top offensive threat, while Lauritzen uses his speed on the outside to stop the opponents' attack. That group will be helped by transfers Daniel Hagopian and Kaleb Lee – both giving the Yotes key size that past teams have lacked.  Hagopian, a 6-foot-1 senior, was a starter at Division II Concordia-Portland before their school shut down last spring, while Lee joined the team late last fall, has a 6-foot-3 frame. Look for a pair of returners to provide depth – as sophomore Kyler Terashima saw limited minutes as a true freshman, while Josh Goicoechea looks to bounce back after missing all of 2019 due to injury. Also in the mix is true freshman Austin Frisk, a 2019 5A All-State selection at Eagle High.
 
POSITION PREVIEW: MIDFIELDERS/FORWARD: The midfield will look different this spring, as the Yotes must replace three of their top six scorers. Two-time All-CCC pick Bekir Cinac, who had six goals and six assists in 2019, has graduated, as has Ahmet Huremovic (5 goals) and 4-year starter Cole Fuller (1 goal, 2assists). However, senior Jack O'Leary returns as a winger, coming of a highly productive 2019 season. The New Zealand native scored six goals and assisted on five others – while leading the club with three game-winning scores. Also back in the central midfield is the tandem of senior Matthew Sammartino and junior Lucas Thorne – as Sammartino started all 17 games in 2019, while Thorne started the final six games of the season. The duo will be helped by a trio of returners – as junior Thomas Bartlett will move from a defensive role to the midfield, sophomore Ryan Gamboa will play in the midfield instead of a more striker-type role, with sophomore Zach Flannery seeing more playing time in 2021. Two transfers and a freshman look to make an immediate impact – sophomore Kristian Quiros, junior Vitor Matos and freshman Dylan Bowes. Quiros spent the 2019 at Yavapai College after earning Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year honors as a senior, scoring 21 goals with 18 assists in helping Rocky Mountain High to the 5A state title. Matos, originally from Brazil, was a 2-year starter in the central midfield at Coffeyville College. Bowes, from Timberline High, was a mainstay in the Wolves line-up for three seasons. Up front, the Coyotes are looking for a big season from senior Ben Bechor. The speedy All-CCC pick ranks No. 20 on C of I's all-time scoring list and had five goals and four assists during the 2019 season. The Yotes look for production as well out of Jacob Hurter, who missed the 2019 season due to injury. When healthy, Hurter has been productive, scoring five goals during his first two seasons with the club. Also in the mix is newcomer Morgan Reah, who made the trek from England and East Markham FC, to play at the College.