Oregon State
Utah Valley
Beavers Set for Pair of Road Tilts
September 23, 2024 | Men's Soccer
THE GAME: The Oregon State men's soccer team will hit the road this week for matchups at Utah Valley and Santa Clara on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. Saturday's contest will mark the Beavers' WCC conference opener.
FOLLOW ALONG: Both of this week's games will air on ESPN+.
UP NEXT: Oregon State will return home Oct. 4 to take on Pacific. The Beavers will return to the Bay Area the following week for a matchup with Saint Mary's.
Quick Hitters:
- Oregon State is coming off its first ever appearance in the College Cup, as the Beavers made men's soccer's final four in 2023.
- OSU entered the season ranked No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, its highest ever preseason ranking.
- The Beavers ended the 2023 season ranked No. 4 in the nation, the highest season-ending ranking in program history
- Oregon State was picked first in the WCC Preseason Coaches Poll, taking four of a possible eight first-place votes. Fran Cortijo, Arnau Farnos, Ellis Spikner and Dante Williams all made the WCC Preseason Team.
- The Beaver men's soccer squad is one of 10 OSU programs slated to compete in the West Coast Conference beginning in the fall of 2024 as part of the two-year conference affiliation agreement.
- Oregon State's squad features 13 newcomers this season.
- Alejandro Silva was named to the United Soccer Coaches' Midfielders to Watch List.
- Ten Beavers have been selected in the last seven MLS SuperDrafts, including three in the 2024 draft. Logan Farrington highlighted the trio of OSU players selected this winter, going at No. 3 overall to FC Dallas.
- Oregon State returns eight players who started their lone College Cup game last season, and 11 of the 15 players who played in the contest.
- Fran Cortijo needs two assists to move into a tie for 10th on Oregon State's career list.
- Oregon State's players represent seven different countries (United States, Spain, Uganda, Argentina, Germany, Italy and Trinidad and Tobago) and four different continents (North America, South America, Europe and Africa).
- Greg Dalby became the second coach in Oregon State history to lead the team to the postseason in his first season in charge. His 11 victories are also tied for the most wins by an OSU head coach in his debut season.
- A total of 10 different Oregon State players found the net last season, with seven of them returning for the 2024 campaign, led by Dante Williams who netted seven goals in 2023.
- Sergi Solans has scored four goals over his last three games. He is the fourth Oregon State player with four goals in a three-game stretch over the last 10 years, joining Logan Farrington (2023), Tyrone Mondi (2021) and Gloire Amanda (2020 season, played spring of 2021).
- Oregon State also played Utah Valley and Santa Clara in back-to-back games in the 2023 season (Sept. 1 and Sept. 4).
The Matchups:
- Oregon State is 1-0-1 all-time against Utah Valley and will make its first trip to Orem this week.
- The Beavers took a 4-1 win last season against the Wolverines at Lorenz Field. Arnau Farnos scored for the Beavers in that contest, while Alejandro Silva (who transferred to Oregon State in the offseason) scored for UVU.
- Oregon State is 1-2-1 all-time against Santa Clara. Saturday will mark the Beavers' first true road game against the Broncos, with the teams playing once in Corvallis and three times at neutral sites.
- Ellis Spikner scored for the Beavers when the sides met last season.
