Griffins Home for First Time in Regular Season
The Westminster men's soccer team will play at home for the first time of the regular season this weekend as they host a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games. The Griffins will welcome Colorado Mesa to Dumke Field on Friday at 3:30 p.m. They will then host No. 10 Regis on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
 
Tickets for both games are available now at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
Both of this week's games will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network, weather permitting. Live stats will also be available during the action. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster begins the week at 1-4 overall this season and 0-2 in RMAC action. The Griffins have played two neutral site games and three road games to start the year. Westminster was 1-7-1 at home last season and they were 1-1 in exhibition games this year.
 
Through five games this season Westminster is scoring 1.0 goals per game and they have four assists on five total goals. The team is attempting 7.6 shots per contest and putting 57.9 percent of those chances on goal. They average 3.60 corner kicks per contest.
 
Preston McIllece leads the Griffins with two goals and four points. Cristian Alfaro and Hunter Kone have each tallied one goal and one assist for three points. Jaden Olsen has scored the team's other goal while Jordan Jones and Jonnathan Rodriguez have one assist each. Alfaro leads the team with eight shots and six shots on goal.
 
Westminster has recorded a 2.80 goals-against-average through the first five games. Griffin keepers have made 14 saves for a .500 save percentage. Opponents are taking 15.4 shots per game and putting 36.4 percent of those on frame.
 
Max Medley has made three starts and recorded a 2.33 GAA and .500 save percentage with seven saves. Sean Lyne has two starts and made six saves with a 3.50 GAA and .462 save percentage.
 
New Era for Westminster Men's Soccer
• The Griffins will embark on a new path this season as Josh Pittman takes over as head coach. Pittman was named the new coach in March after Chris Dorich retired after 32 years as the team's only head coach. He has 13 years of collegiate coaching experience, all of which were at the NCAA Division II level, and over 20 years of soccer experience as a coach and player.
 
Two on the Board
• With two goals against Hawaii Hilo, Westminster snapped a span of 14 straight games without scoring multiple goals. The team was just 1-12-1 during the stretch and they were shutout six times.
 
Rally for Victory
• The come-from-behind win against Hawaii Hilo was also the first time in 42 contests a Westminster team won a game in which they trailed. The last comeback victory for the Griffins was a 2-1 win over Saint Ambrose on October 13, 2013.
 
Freshman Jitters?
• Preston McIllece has scored a pair of goal in his first five collegiate games. The freshman currently leads the team with those two goals and he is eighth in the RMAC by scoring 0.40 goals per game. McIllece has taken five shots on the season with his two goals being the only ones on target.
 
No Experience Needed
• Cristian Alfaro has opened his collegiate career with one goal and one assist in his first five games. Alfaro scored the equalizing goal against Hawaii Hilo to go with his assist against Eastern New Mexico in the season opener. Alfaro leads the team with eight shots and six shots on goal.
 
Match Facts: Colorado Mesa
• Colorado Mesa is 4-0 all-time against the Griffins.
• The Mavericks swept two games last season, outscoring the Griffins 7-1.
• CMU starts the week at 2-1-3 overall and 1-0-0 in conference.
• They currently average 1.67 goals per game with a 0.60 GAA.
• Roy Abergil leads the RMAC with six goals and 12 points.
 
Match Facts: Regis
• Regis holds a 12-3-1 all-time record in the series.
• The Rangers beat the Griffins twice last season, outscoring them 9-1.
• Regis is ranked No. 10 in this week's NSCAA Poll and is 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the RMAC.
• As a team, they are scoring 1.60 goals per game with a 0.38 GAA.
• Tom Grimley leads the team with four goals and eight points.
 
Looking Ahead
The Griffins will play a pair of RMAC games next weekend with one at home and the other on the road. They travel to Adams State for a game on September 30 before hosting Fort Lewis on October 2.