April 26, 2005
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Former Cal State Bakersfield men’s soccer standout goalkeeper Josh Wicks signed a professional contract last week to play with the Vancouver (B.C.) Whitecaps of the United Soccer League’s 1st Division, during the 2005 season.
Wicks, a native of San Bernardino, Calif., becomes the 14th former Roadrunner soccer player to be a member of a professional team after signing a one–year contract to play for the A-League franchise which he has been working out with for the past month.
Wicks was an All–CCAA first–team and Far West Region second–team selection in goal for the Roadrunners in the 2004 season and wrapped up his four years at CSUB as the career leader in every statistical category for goalkeepers. Last season, he was 13–5–4 overall, posting a school record 0.59 goals against average with 12 shutouts. He also scored his first two career goals including the match–winner in a 1–0 win over Cal State San Bernardino in his final collegiate trip to his hometown.
Wicks is currently battling for a starting spot with Mike Franks, a 6’ 5” Canadian who has eight years of professional soccer experience and who has represented his country on a number of occasions. The two combined for two shutouts during the exhibition season including a 1–0 blanking of the University of Victoria in early April. In that contest Wicks made a couple of nice saves including stopping a blast from UVic star Kingsley Jones in the 69th minute.
The Whitecaps finished 14-9-5 in 2004, placing second in the A-League’s Western Conference. They were knocked out of the playoffs in the conference finals, as their arch–rivals, the Seattle Sounders, advanced 4–1 on aggregate.
Wicks will be playing for Bob Lilley, who is in his first season as head coach for Vancouver. Lilley previously coached CSUB Assistant Coach John Smith while the two were with the Hershey Wildcats of the A–League in 1999.
The Whitecaps opened their 2005 season with a scoreless draw against Toronto on April 24th.
California State University, Bakersfield Athletic Department
9001 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022
Phone: (661) 654-3071 • FAX: (661) 654-2376
