Sept. 25, 2013
THIS WEEK:
New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M.
Sept. 27 New Mexico 4:00 p.m.
San Diego State San Diego, Calif.
Sept. 29 San Diego State 12:00 p.m.
(All times in PDT)
SAN JOSÉ STATE PLAYS FIRST MOUNTAIN WEST MATCHES THIS WEEKEND: The San José State University women's soccer team (1-7-0) has its inaugural Mountain West match at New Mexico on Friday, September 27 for a 5:00 p.m. (MDT) start. The Spartans then travel to San Diego State on Sunday, September 29, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT)
The Spartans scored a goal within the first two minutes of each half en route to its first win of the season, a 3-2 non-conference victory over the University of the Pacific on Friday, September 20. Lupita Estrada and Kareli Rodriguez each had three points for the Spartans, with Rodriguez scoring her first-career goal.
LIVE STATS: Live stats for this weekend's match 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 STREAM: Live video will be available for the both of this weekend's matches through the Mountain West Network free-of-charge. On SJSUSpartans, click on the calendar button in the center of the homepage, then access the live stream by clicking the Live Stream link.
NEW MEXICO: After going 0-1-1 as hosts of the Jack in the Box Classic, the Lobos (2-7-1) will look to rebound behind leading goal scorer and shot taker, Dylann O'Connor. The Lobos will also look to goalkeeper Cassie Ulrich, who earned her third shutout of the season in the Lobos' 0-0 draw aganist UC Davis on Sunday, September 22, and has a 0.97 goals against average. Head Coach Kit Vela is in her 13th season at the helm of the Lobos' program.
SAN DIEGO STATE: The Aztecs (2-5-2) host the Spartans after a weekend in which they shut out hometown rivals San Diego, 3-0, but lost to #16 Portland, 2-1. Team leading goal scorer and Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week Hannah Keane has taken a Mountain West-high 35 shots. In goal, Melanie Vaughn has played every minute for San Diego State this season, posting a 1.48 goals against average and a .741 save percentage. In his 13th season is Head Coach Mike Friesen.
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:
Ashley Boitz has played in seven matches for the Spartans this season. She has taken one shot.
Rachel Docherty has started six of seven matches played for the Spartans this season.
Alex Donaldson has played in six of the Spartans' matches this season.
Lupita Estrada has started all of the Spartans' matches this season and leads the team in goals (3), points (7), shots (13) and shots on goal (9). She was named to the University of San Diego Tournament All-Tournament Team after scoring both of the team's goals.
Sarah Fraser has played in all of the Spartans' matches this season with two starts. She has taken two shots, one of which was between the pipes.
Alex Jimenez has played in all of the Spartans' matches and has five starts this season. She has taken one shot.
Cheryl Kute has started all of the Spartans' 2013 matches. She has scored one goal, the Spartans' lone penalty kick of the season. She has taken eight shots, four of which were on goal. Kute was named to the University of San Diego Tournament All-Tournament Team.
McColl Matthews has played in six of the team's matches this season with four starts. She is tied for the Spartans' lead in assists (1). She has taken one shot, which was between the pipes.
Carley McBeath has started all of the Spartans' matches this season. She has one assist and has taken seven shots, one of which was on goal.
Megan Molina has starts in all of the Spartans' matches this season. She has taken nine shots, five of which were between the pipes.
Megan Rauschnot has started all of the team's matches, taking one shot this season.
Stephanie Rebagliati has played in seven of the Spartans' matches this season, making two starts. She has taken one shot, which was on goal.
Kareli Rodriguez has scored one goal and is the team's assist leader (2) in her eight starts this season. She has taken 10 shots with two going between the pipes.
Becca Spangler has five starts for the Spartans this season, appearing in all eight matches. She has taken one shot.
Alexis Venegas has started all of the Spartans' matches this season. She scored her first collegiate goal against San Francisco. She has taken seven shots, five of which were between the pipes.
NOTES FROM BETWEEN THE PIPES:
Zoe Makrigiannis has three starts for the Spartans and an additional appearance for 301:26 minutes in goal this season. She has a 1.79 goals against average with a .571 save percentage alongside a 1-2 record.
Sarah Peplinski has started five of the Spartans' six matches this season. In 428:34 minutes, she has a 0-5 record with a 2.94 goals against average and a .611 save percentage.
SPARTANS' NEXT MATCH: San José State hosts its first-ever Mountain West match on Friday, October 4, against UNLV at 7:00 p.m. Nevada then visits Spartan Stadium on Sunday, October 6, for a 1:00 p.m. match.