PUEBLO, Colo. (September 11, 2024) - The Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer team, fresh off an unbeaten week to start the season, will continue nonconference play and will wrap a four-game homestand this week with matches against Dallas Baptist on Thursday and versus University of Texas at Tyler on Saturday, at Art & Lorraine Gonzales Stadium.
Thursday's matchup against DBU is set for 7 p.m. and the match on Saturday against UT Tyler is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The No. 2 ranked ThunderWolves enter the second week of the young season after posting two clean sheet victories over Western Oregon and Northwest Nazarene during last week's opening weekend.
After the wins, three Pack players earned recognition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, along with Shjon Andrews (Gr., Longmont, Colo.) earning Defensive Player of the Week accolades, and Ruben Volkert (Gr., Baden-Württemberg, Germany) earned recognition as Goalkeeper of the Week.
Oliveira scored eight points and had three of the Pack's five goals during the opening week. He had two goals and an assist against WOU, scoring in the 13th minute and adding a penalty conversion in the 87th minute. Oliveira tacked on his season's third goal with another penalty kick goal in the 38th minute against the Nighthawks from NNU.
On the defensive side, Andrews played 157 minutes and led a CSU Pueblo defense that posted back-to-back shutouts to start the 2024 season. He scored his first goal of the season against NNU, heading in a corner kick in the ThunderWolves' 2-0 victory. Opponents managed only eight shots against the CSU Pueblo defense in two games.
At goalkeeper, Volkert provided 135 minutes in net for the Pack. He notched a 3-0 shutout win against Western Oregon on Thursday, making three saves on six shots faced. Volkert then started and provided a first-half shutout against NNU, making one save being being substituted to start the second half.
Pack newcomer Tobi Osifodunrin (Sr., Brighton, Colo.) totaled three points and scored a goal and an assist in his debut.
Series History
CSU Pueblo and Dallas Baptist have played three times and the ThunderWolves hold a 2-1 lead in the series. CSU Pueblo and DBU met last year in Dallas to start the season and the Pack came away with a 3-2 victory.
In Sight for the Pack
The ThunderWolves start a three-game road swing and will play at Oklahoma Christian on Sep. 19, versus Rogers State in OKC on Sep. 21, and play at RMAC foe-Fort Lewis on Sep. 26.
How to Follow the Pack
Thursday, September 12, 2024: CSU Pueblo vs. Dallas Baptist 7 p.m. (Live stats) (Video)
Saturday, September 14, 2024: CSU Pueblo vs. UT Tyler 1 p.m. (Live stats) (Video)
Twitter - @gothunderwolves / @csupmsoccer
Opponent Capsules
Dallas Baptist University Patriots
Record: 0-1-1 (0-0-0 Heartland)
Statistical Leaders:
Points: 4 – Peyton Voelker
Goals: 2 – Voelker
Assists: 1 – Three players tied
Shots: 7 - Voelker
Goalkeeper Saves: 7 – Patrick Banich
Last game played: September 7th – Lost 3-4, at No. 23 Southern Nazarene
UT Tyler
Record: 1-0-1 (0-0-0 Lone Star)
Statistical Leaders:
Points: 4 – Julian Smith
Goals: 2 - Smith
Assists: 1 – Three players tied
Shots: 8 - Smith
Goalkeeper Saves: 12 – Lucas Gomes
Last game played: September 7th – Lost, 1-0 vs. Jarvis Christian
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