CALIFORNIA Golden Bears 2007 GOLDEN BEAR SOCCER BEAR FACTS TABLE OF Location: Berkeley, CA Enrollment: 33,000 CONTENTS Founded: 1868 Team Roster ................................. IFC Nickname: Golden Bears 2007 Season Outlook ....................... 2 Colors: Blue (282) and Gold (116) Head Coach Kevin Grimes ............... 3 Conference: Pacific-10 Stadium (cap.): Edwards Stadium (22,000) Assistant Coaches ........................... 4 Field (surface): Goldman Field (natural grass) Endowments ..................................... 5 Director of Athletics: Sandy Barbour 2007 Athlete Profiles ................... 6-10 Deputy Director of Athletics/SWA: Teresa Kuehn Gould 2006 Season in Review .................. 11 Head Coach (Alma Mater): Kevin Grimes (SMU, 1990) 2006 Results & Stats ...................... 12 Record at Cal/Career: 81-51-13/same 2006 Pac-10 Standings Assistant Coach: Pieter Lehrer (UCLA, 1990) Goalkeeper Coach: Henry Foulk (California, 1984) and Awards ..................................... 13 Soccer Office Phone: (510) 642-5916 2007 Opponents ............................. 14 Soccer Office Fax: (510) 643-2536 Series Records ............................... 15 Coach Grimes’ Email: [email protected] All-Time Results ........................ 16-17 2006 Overall Record: 13-6-1 All-Time Records ............................ 18 Pac-10 Record/Finish: 7-3-0/1st All-Time Awards and Honors.......... 19 Last NCAA Appearance: 2006 – Round of 16 Lettermen Returning/Lost: 17/6 Cal Players in the Pros ............. 20-21 Starters Returning/Lost: 6/5 Goldman Field / Strength & Assistant AD for Media Relations: Herb Benenson Conditioning .................................... 22 Media Relations Men’s Soccer Contact: Tim Miguel Tim Miguel Academic Support ........................... 23 Direct Office Phone: (510) 643-9036 Media Relations The University .................................. 24 Email Address: [email protected] Men’s Soccer Contact San Francisco Bay Area ................ IBC Media Relations Office Phone: (510) 642-5363 Media Relations Fax: (510) 643-7778 Mailing Address: 349 Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 94720 Internet Address: CalBears.com BEAR BACKERS SUPPORT YOUR TEAM Bear Backers are loyal Cal alumni and friends who provide financial support to Cal Athletics with their donations. Every student-athlete benefits from their contributions which underwrite scholar-ships, operational needs and academic tutoring programs. Bear Backers also build athletic facilities, including Haas Pavilion. The best way to support a Cal team is to join Bear Backers. For more information, call (510) 642-2427. 2007 CAL MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE Date Opponent Site Time Aug. 31 at San Diego San Diego 3:00 p.m. Sept. 7 Penn (adidas Cal Legacy Classic) Berkeley 4:00 p.m. Sept. 9 Wisconsin (adidas Cal Legacy Classic) Berkeley 1:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at San Francisco (Bay Area Classic) San Francisco 7:00 p.m. Sept. 16 Santa Clara (Bay Area Classic) Berkeley 2:00 p.m. Sept. 21 Davidson (Stanford Tournament) Stanford 5:00 p.m. Sept. 23 Princeton (Stanford Tournament) Stanford 12:00 p.m. Sept. 29 Towson Berkeley 2:00 p.m. CREDITS Oct. 5 Washington Berkeley 4:00 p.m. The 2007 California Men’s Soccer Oct. 7 Oregon State Berkeley 2:00 p.m. Media Guide was written by Assistant Oct. 12 at San Diego State San Diego 4:00 p.m. Media Relations Directors Tim Miguel Oct. 14 at UCLA Los Angeles 1:00 p.m. and Dean Caparaz. Design and layout Oct. 20 Stanford Berkeley 2:00 p.m. by Publications Coordinator Evan Kerr Nov. 2 San Diego State Berkeley 1:00 p.m. and Publications Director John Nov. 4 UCLA Berkeley 2:30 p.m. Dunbar. Photography by John Dunbar, Nov. 9 at Washington Seattle, Wash. 7:30 p.m. Evan Kerr, and Michael Pimentel, Nov. 11 at Oregon State Corvallis, Ore. 1:30 p.m. among others. Printing by U.C. Printing, Nov. 17 at Stanford Stanford 7:00 p.m. Berkeley, Calif. 2007 California Golden Bears Men’s Soccer Media Guide 1 CALIFORNIA Golden Bears 2007 SEASON OUTLOOK help Sassano with experience and REIGNING PAC-10 CHAMPS ARE leadership as he is the third returning Bear who started every game in 2006. HUNGRY FOR MORE IN 2007 Sophomore Kyle Rice also looks to make a significant impact. oming off its first-ever Pac-10 title “Our forward line is creative and talented,” “The adjustments we have made this last season, California seeks to Grimes said. “Ayala-Hil and Wilson had past spring in our backline have turned out Ccontinue its success in 2007. breakout seasons for Cal this past year. to be great ones,” Grimes said. “With the Eighth-year head coach Kevin Grimes We also have a number of incoming players presence of Luke Sassano, Barry, Leon looks to a three-member senior class to who will add quality depth up front.” and Nieraeth, our back four hasn’t missed lead his Golden Bears. a beat. Rice, Evan Sassano and Dolan Last season, Grimes’ squad produced MIDFIELDERS also look to make a significant contribution a 13-6-1 record and a 7-3 Pac-10 mark, to the back four.” which was good enough to claim the Two potent weapons the Bears have at conference crown. A sixth straight NCAA midfielder are Jacobson and sophomore Tournament appearance led to the overall Hector Jimenez. Jacobson brings a lot of GOALKEEPERS No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a experience to the table as he is one of three Sophomore Stefan Frei is Cal’s lone first-round bye and a 3-1 second-round returning Bears to start all 20 games in returning goalkeeper in 2007. Frei victory over New Mexico. 2006. The Palo Alto native also tallied two competed in six games, starting five of Cal lost nine players from 2006 but game-winning goals last season. them, last year. Both of his victories were retains a talented group in addition to a Jimenez, a member of the U.S. Under-17 shutouts. In nearly 460 minutes of work, recruiting class that was ranked No. 16 by National team in 2004-05, led Cal with six Frei allowed three goals and recorded 18 College Soccer News. Leading the way assists last year and participated in all 20 saves. among the returners is senior forward games, starting 16 of them. Two newcomers will look to make a Javier Ayala-Hil, who led Cal in goals (12) “Our midfield has always been the mark on this year’s squad. Junior Patrick and points (26) last year and was an All- strength of our team, particularly the depth,” Fry joins the Bears after transferring from Pac-10 first-team selection. Senior Grimes said. “We have plenty of players Cal State Los Angeles and freshman midfielder Andrew Jacobson, a two-time who can contribute this year. Jacobson Jordan Bethke rounds out the depth for first-team All-Pac-10 choice, was second and Jimenez had outstanding seasons. Cal at keeper. to Ayala-Hil in shots on goal, as the latter Sophomore Ian Ebert, Kerchgani and “Stefan Frei returns after a good had 24 and Jacobson recorded 21. Senior redshirt freshman Anthony Avalos all freshman season,” Grimes said. “All three made great strides in 2006 and look to defender Luke Sassano, sophomore of our goalkeepers have great qualities in have breakout years.” midfielder Imaan Kerchgani and junior their games. This position has the most Kerchgani, Avalos and sophomore Evan midfielder Jacob Wilson were 2006 competition for playing time out of any Sassano (the younger brother of Luke honorable mention All-Pac-10 picks. other on the field.” “We are all looking forward to the 2007 Sassano) were teammates on the San season,” Grimes said. “The 2006 season Juan/Santa Clara Ruckus squad that had some great moments and great reached the final in the 2007 McGuire Cup. SCHEDULE success. We hope to continue that The trio was also part of a Santa Clara Grimes has compiled yet another momentum with our program and in Sporting Ruckus club that won the Under- challenging schedule in 2007, with Cal particular in the 2007 season.” 18 Cal North state championship in 2006. playing six teams (Washington, UCLA, Ebert, meanwhile, is a former member of Towson, San Francisco, Santa Clara and the Irvine Strikers, one of the top youth San Diego State) that reached the 2006 FORWARDS clubs in the nation that has produced NCAA Tournament, three of which received Ayala-Hil and Wilson give Cal options several veteran Cal players and recent first-round byes like the Bears (UCLA, for another strong frontline. Ayala-Hil, who graduates. Santa Clara and Towson). UCLA reached started every game last year, recorded five Other Bears who will add depth in the College Cup final before falling to UC game-winning goals in 2006 and scored midfield include juniors Pat Marion and Santa Barbara, 2-1. Towson wrapped up twice in Cal’s 3-1 win over New Mexico in Michael Nieraeth, freshmen A.J. Soares the season with a record of 15-2-3 and a the second round of the NCAA College and Servando Carrasco and redshirt national ranking of 15. Cup. Wilson recorded four goals, two freshman Patrick Dolan. UCLA, San Diego State and Washington assists, and 10 points last season. He combined with Cal to give the Pac-10 four also contributed two game-winning goals. DEFENDERS teams in the postseason. All three also Although Ayala-Hil and Wilson are the only ended the season in the NSCAA’s top 25 Luke Sassano will anchor the defense two returning forwards, Grimes has national rankings, with UCLA ranked this season, coming off a 2006 campaign brought in five newcomers to add depth at second, Cal ranked 12th and Washington that saw him record five assists. Seven of the position – junior Chris Deal and ranked 20th. Sassano’s 12 shots last year were shots freshmen Demitrius Omphroy, Davis “Once again Cal is going to have a top 10 on goal, giving him the highest percentage Paul, Scot Van Buskirk and Andrew strength of schedule ranking,” Grimes said.