ARCATA, Calif. - With a solid core of returning players, the Humboldt State men's soccer team is ready to open a tough 2014 schedule.

     The Lumberjacks begin the season with one of their most challenging opponents in Seattle Pacific University on Thursday afternoon starting at 4:30 p.m. held at Chico State. HSU will wrap up its opening weekend against NAIA foe William Jessup in a 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon contest.
 
VETERAN CORE: HSU SEEKS WINNING YEAR
   HSU seeks it first winning year in eight years with its solid veteran core leading the way.
     The Jacks come off a 6-11-1 campaign. The team saw its California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff hopes dashed by three-straight one-goal losses and five losses in a row to end the season.
     HSU, though, heads into the 2014 campaign with a great deal of optimism with 13 letterwinners and eight starters returning to the lineup. The Jacks have three of their top four scorers – Chuck Pitts, Braxton Griffin and Ryan Connor – set to lead the attack and senior goalie Javier Torres to man the goal.
     Pitts netted three scores and assisted on five others, while Griffin contributed three goals and a pair of assists. Senior Andre Bernal and sophomore Riki Michael add two more experienced frontline players.
     After three scores last year, Connor will move from forward to center back to anchor the middle of the HSU defense. He will be joined by senior Kenji Murao and juniors Brett Alexander and Connor Wilkinson.
   In the midfield, seniors Austin Swartz and Quintin Aguilar and junior Sam Wahl pace the ball control Jacks.
 
JACKS PICKED 10^TH IN CCAA PRESEASON COACHES POLL
     After a tough end of last season, HSU will have its work cut out in the new one 12-team CCAA format. The Jacks were voted 10^th of the 12 league members in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
     No. 14 ranked Cal State Los Angeles gained the top preseason spot with 120 points, 26 points ahead of Cal State Dominguez Hills' 94. Chico State (92), Cal Poly Pomona (89) and No. 9-rated nationally UC San Diego (84) completed the top five.
     With the changing of the conference's format, the CCAA playoffs expand from a four to a six-team playoff field.
 
WEEK NO. 1 HSU OPPONENTS:
 
vs. SEATTLE PACIFIC – THUR., SEPT. 4 at Chico State (4:30 p.m.)
Live Stats

• 2013 Record: 12-4-3 / 10-1-3 GNAC (2^nd Place)
• Lost 1-0 to Chico State in NCAA 1^st Round
• HSU All-Time vs. SPU: 0-11-4
• Last meeting: 2010 in a Tie (0-0)
• SPU has outscored HSU 36-5 in the 15 matches with 12 shutouts
• Last three matchups have ended in ties

 
at WILLIAM JESSUP – SAT., SEPT. 6 (1:30 p.m.)

• 2013 Record: 9-9-1 / 8-4-1 CALPAC
• HSU All-Time vs. William Jessup: 1-0-0
• Lone meeting – HSU 3-0 win in 2009 season opener