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Men’s MPSF tournament opens today
DU is hosting the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation men’s soccer tournament at the University of Denver Soccer Stadium today through Sunday.
This marks the first year that the MPSF has played a men’s soccer tournament since 2003. The Pioneers earned the right to host the tournament after winning their first MPSF regular-season championship last year, which earned DU its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1970.
No. 4 seed Denver will take on No. 5 Air Force in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. today (Thursday), following a game between No. 3 San Jose State and No. 6 UNLV at 4:30 p.m.
In the semifinals on Friday, the winners from the quarterfinals will take on No. 1 Sacramento State and No. 2 New Mexico, which received byes.
The championship game will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, and the winner receives an automatic berth into the NCAA tournament.
TEAM PREVIEWS
No. 1 Sacramento State (10-5-2, 6-0-1 MPSF) – The Hornets went undefeated in conference. Sacramento State tied UNLV 1-1 on Nov. 1 to prevent a perfect conference season. The Hornets are led by Max Alvarez, who led the league with nine goals and 20 points. Sacramento State will take on the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals on Friday after receiving a quarterfinal bye.
No. 2 New Mexico (11-6-0, 5-2-0 MPSF) – The Lobos enter the tournament after closing out the season with a pair of victories, thanks in large part to MPSF Co-Player of the Week Michael Green’s two goals. New Mexico is led by Justin Davis, whose six assists this year are third-best in the MPSF. The Lobos will take on the highest remaining seed in the semifinals on Friday after receiving a quarterfinal bye.
No. 3 San Jose State (9-9-1, 4-3-0 MPSF) - The Spartans dropped three heartbreakers to end the regular season, each by a lone goal, after an eight-game unbeaten streak. San Jose State came back from a three-goal deficit at Sacramento State in the season finale, only to give up a goal 18 seconds after tying the score.
No. 4 Denver (5-9-3, 2-4-1 MPSF) – The Pioneers secured the fourth seed with a pair of victories to end the regular season, including a 2-0 win over Air Force on Nov. 7 for the Falcons’ only home loss this season. Senior captain Collin Audley earned MPSF co-player of the week honors after scoring a goal in each of DU’s wins last week. Denver’s leading scorer this season is freshman forward Alex Tarnoczi, whose six goals are the fifth-most in the MPSF.
No. 5 Air Force (7-8-1, 2-5-0 MPSF) – The Falcons head into the tournament on a three-game losing streak. Air Force goalkeeper Mike Mauro leads the MPSF in saves per game (4.60) and save percentage (.780), while Kevin Rosser ranks third in assists per game (0.36).
No. 6 UNLV (7-6-4, 1-4-2 MPSF) – Although the Rebels are the sixth seed, the team handed No. 1 seed Sacramento State its only tie in an undefeated conference season on Nov. 1 and played the Pioneers to a tie in Denver on Oct. 23. The Rebels’ lone conference win came Oct. 30 on the road against San Jose State, UNLV’s opponent in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
PAST MPSF CHAMPIONS
2008 – Denver
2007 – New Mexico
2006 – New Mexico
2005 – New Mexico (NCAA 2nd)
2004 – New Mexico
2003 – San Jose State
2002 – New Mexico
2001 – New Mexico
2000 – San Jose State
1999 – Washington
1998—Washington (Stanford NCAA 2nd)
1997 – UCLA (NCAA Champion)
1996 – UCLA
1995 – UCLA
1994 – Fresno State
1993 – UCLA
1992 – Washington
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