Aug 22, 2013
THIS WEEK:
University of San Diego Tournament San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 23 San Diego 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 25 UC Riverside 11:00 a.m.
(All times in PDT)
SAN JOSÉ STATE OPENS REGULAR SEASON ON THE ROAD: The 2013 San José State University women's soccer team opens its regular season on Friday, Aug. 23, at the University of San Diego. The Spartans face the Toreros at 7:30 p.m., then take on UC Riverside on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 11:00 a.m.
SPARTANS PICKED TO FINISH NINTH: The 2013 San José State University women's soccer team was picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West by a panel of the conference's 11 head coaches.
The Spartans return seven starters and 13 letterwinners to its 2012 squad that finished 6-11-1. In its inaugural Mountain West season, San José State plays a program-high 10 conference matches and faces two teams ranked in the NSCAA/Continental Tire preseason list (San Diego State, No. 11; California, No. 20).
2013 SQUAD FEATURES QUALITY RETURNERS AND EXCITING NEWCOMERS: The 2012 team-leading scorer and second team All-WAC and Preseason CollegeSportsMadness.com honoree Megan Molina joins the team for her senior season, while centerback Rachel Docherty, who played the second-most minutes of all returners, anchors the backline. Seven newcomers join the squad, including 2012 Big 8 Conference Player of the Year Kareli Rodriguez and goalkeeper Sarah Peplinski, the 2013 Wisconsin Valley Conference Player of the Year. In addition, Niki Brooks, who has six years of coaching at the collegiate level, joins the team as an assistant coach.
LIVE STATS: Live stats for this weekend's games will be available on SJSUSpartans.com. Click on the calendar button in the center of the homepage, then access live stats for each game by either clicking on the Game Tracker icon, or the Live Stats link.
LIVE VIDEO: Live video for the Spartans' game against the University of San Diego is available. Click on the calendar button in the center of the homepage, then click on the Live Stream link beside the game.
UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: The Toreros were tabbed in the preseason West Coast Conference (WCC) poll to finish fifth in the conference after an 8-11 record last season. San Diego was represented on the Preseason All-WCC team by defender Meghan O'Rourke, who helped the Toreros post six shutouts in 2012. Ada Greenwood enters her 10th season as the Toreros' head coach in 2013.
UC RIVERSIDE: After a 7-10-3 record and a 2-6-1 showing in Big West play, the Highlanders were picked to finish ninth in the conference's preseason coaches' poll. The team returns 15 letterwinners and five starters, including top point-getter Andrea Morales. In his second season as head coach is Nat Gonzalez.
NEXT WEEK: The Spartans travel to Bay Area rivals, the University of San Francisco and California, ranked No. 20 in the NSCAA/Continental Tire preseason list, on Friday, Aug. 30 at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 1, 12:00 p.m., respectively.