Aug 28, 2013
THIS WEEK:
San Francisco San Francisco, Calif.
California Berkeley, Calif.
Aug. 30 San Francisco 5:00 p.m.
Sept. 1 California 4:30 p.m.
(All times in PDT)
SAN JOSÉ STATE OPENS FACES BAY AREA RIVALS: The San José State University women's soccer team (0-2) travels up the Peninsula to face its Bay Area rivals, the University of San Francisco (1-0-0) and California (1-0-1). The Spartans play the Dons on Friday, August 30, at 5:00 p.m. and the Golden Bears on Sunday, September 1, at 4:30 p.m.
The Spartans opened their regular season at the University of San Diego Tournament, facing hosts San Diego on Friday, August 23, and UC Riverside on Sunday, August 25. Freshman Lupita Estrada found the back of the net in each of her first two collegiate matches. But in the team's season opener against the Toreros, the Spartans were unable to contain San Diego's aggressive offensive and lost, 5-1. Versus UC Riverside, the Spartans generated quality chances but an overtime goal sealed the Highlanders' fate and handed San José State a 2-1 loss.
LIVE STATS: Live stats for this weekend's matches will be available on SJSUSpartans.com. Click on the calendar button in the center of the homepage, then access live stats for each match by either clicking on the Match Tracker icon, or the Live Stats link.
LIVE VIDEO: Live video for the Spartans' match against the University of San Francisco is available. Click on the calendar button in the center of the homepage, then click on the Live Stream link beside the match.
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO: The Dons (1-0) shut out Nevada, 2-0, at home on Sunday, August 25, in their season opener. The team's top point-getter (20) in 2012, Mackenzie Krieser scored her first of the year and freshman Lexi Krueger scored her first collegiate goal. In his second season as head coach in Jim Millinder.
CALIFORNIA: No. 20/18 Golden Bears (1-0-1) opened their 2013 season on the road with a 3-1 win over UC Irvine on Friday, August 23, scoring three unanswered goals. In a Monday, August 26 game at Pepperdine, the teams scored a goal three minutes apart for the game's final 1-1 score. Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick's two goals, four points and eight shots lead California. Head Coach Neil McGuire is in his second season.
SAN JOSÉ STATE HEAD COACH: Head Coach Jeff Leightman is at the Spartans' helm for his sixth season, entering 2013 with a 40-47-11 record. The 2009 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Coach of the Year, he is the only coach to lead his team to back-to-back regular season conference titles. In each of his first four years, he led the Spartans to a WAC Tournament bid.
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.
NOTES FROM THE PITCH:
Claire Berkley has played in one match for the Spartans this season.
Ashley Boitz has played in both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Rachel Docherty has started both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Alex Donaldson has played in both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Lupita Estrada scored the Spartans' two goals at the University of San Diego Tournament in and was named to the University of San Diego Tournament All-Tournament Team. The first two of her collegiate career, she started both matches. She leads the team in goals (2), points (4), shots (3) and shots on goal (3).
Sarah Fraser has played in both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Alex Jimenez has played in both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Cheryl Kute was named to the University of San Diego Tournament All-Tournament Team after starting both matches at the tournament and taking one shot.
McColl Matthews has started all of the team's matches this season, and is tied for the Spartans' lead in assists (1). She has taken one shot, which was between the pipes.
Mireya Wathen-Mayorga has played in one match for the Spartans this season.
Carley McBeath started both matches at the University of San Diego Tournament. She took one shot at the tournament.
Mikaella Meibock has played in one match for the Spartans' this season.
Megan Molina has starts in both of the Spartans' matches this season. She has taken one shot.
Megan Rauschnot started both of the team's matches at the University of San Diego Tournament, taking one shot this season.
Stephanie Rebagliati has played in both of the Spartans' matches this season.
Kareli Rodriguez is tied for the team's lead in assists with one after starting both of the team's matches. She has taken two shots.
Becca Spangler has starts in the Spartans' two matches this season. She has taken one shot.
Alexis Venegas has started each of the Spartans' matches this season. She has taken two shots, both of which were between the pipes.
NOTES FROM BETWEEN THE PIPES:
Sarah Peplinski started both of the Spartans' matches this season. In 158:34 minutes, she has a 0-2 record with a 3.41 goals against average and a .455 save percentage.
Zoe Makrigiannis appeared for 31:26 in one match for the Spartans this season. She allowed one goal and recorded a 2.86 goals against average.
SPARTANS' NEXT MATCH: San José State takes on Cal Poly on their home turf on Friday, September 6, then heads to the state capital to face Sacramento State on Sunday, September 8.