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SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay men's soccer team will look to capitalize on its early home success when it takes to the road for the first time in 2011 with three matches this week. The Otters will open against a strong Cal Baptist side Tuesday (Sept. 14) in Riverside before heading to the other end of the state for conference tilts against Humboldt State (Sept. 16) and Sonoma State (Sept. 17).

“This will be a great week for us,” says Head Coach Robert Cummings. “Three teams, three different climates, three different pitches and three different styles of play. CSUMB went 0–10 on the road last season. We did what we needed to do last weekend but by no stretch of the imagination are we where we need to be. This is a business trip for us. We need to learn to win on the road in order to take care of business.”

The Otters have received offense from a variety of sources so far, with three different players assisting three different goal scorers in the first two games. Returners Max Brixey (Truckee HS), Beau Villanueva (Turlock/Pitman HS) and newcomer Connor Ray (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge HS) own the three markers.



Otter Men's Soccer Odds & Ends

WINNING WAYS:  The Otters opened CCAA play with an undefeated weekend for just the third time in history (2007, 2009). A win or tie against Cal Baptist would put them undefeated through three matches for the first time since the 2007 (when they went 1–0–2).

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION:  Three goals through two matches might seem pedestrian, but they represent a big step forward for the Otter offense. The Otters didn't score their third goal last season until their seventh match.

LESS WORK EQUALS BETTER RESULTS:  Sam Campanelli (Palmdale/Highland HS) has accomplished more while doing less so far in 2011. He already owns a shutout and a fine 0.45 goals against avg. while making just 2.5 saves per game (down from 5.3 in 2010).