Sept. 9, 2014
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San Jose, Calif. - The San José State University women's soccer team will continue their road rage this weekend, as they will travel to face the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara and the Dons of San Francisco for a pair of nonconference matches.
San José State (2-3-0)
at UC Santa Barbara (2-3-1)
Friday, September 12, 2014, 5:00 p.m.
at San Francisco
Sunday, September 14, 2014, 12:00 p.m.
SCOUTING UC SANTA BARBARA:
UC Santa Barbara comes into Friday's match with an overall record of 2-3-1. The Gauchos began the season winning their first two games against versus Cleveland State (3-0) and Southern Utah (2-0), but have since tied with Dayton (2-2) before dropping its next two matches to Stanford (2-0) and Loyola Marymount (2-1).
The Gauchos are led by freshman forward Amanda Ball and sophomore Dakota Griggs. So far this season, the pair has a combined total of 10 points coming from two goals and one assist to their name.
SCOUTING SAN FRANCISCO:
San Francisco will head into Sunday's match with an overall record of 3-2-1, and winners of two of its last three contests. The Dons defeated Boston University (1-0) in its previous match before falling to Harvard (1-0), and defeating LIU Brooklyn (3-0) prior to that.
The Dons are led by sophomore Jessica Nakae, as the defender has a team high five points, and her pair of goals are tied for the team lead as well. Senior midfielder Jaciara Mello has put a pair in the net as well, as sophomore midfielder Amanda Whittle is second on the team with four points.
LAST TIME OUT:
Freshman Isela Rivera scored her first career goal as the San José State women's soccer team downed the University of Pacific 4-0 Sunday afternoon at Knoles Soccer Field.
San José State (2-3-0) in its 2-0 defeat to Cal Poly on Friday, September 5 dominated the second half of play maintaining possession for majority of the half and outshooting the Mustangs 12-4.
The Spartans carried that second half momentum from the previous match into Sunday's contest, and was put on display early.
Less than 30 seconds into the match, an attempted cross from Gabriella Stange drifted past the Pacific (2-4-0) keeper and into the back of the net to give the Spartans the early 1-0 advantage.
Shortly after, in the 11th minute Pacific goalkeeper Jacqueline Kane misplayed the ball after being pressured and rattled by Rivera, making her second career start was in perfect position for the easy tap in goal to put San José up 2-0.
After halftime, Pacific threatened to cut into the deficit as the Tigers Nicole Penick nearly beat Zoe Makrigiannis for a goal in the 61st minute, but the junior keeper made the clutch save to keep the match at 2-0.
The Spartans would capitalize on the Makrigiannis save on the next possession. Stange was rewarded a corner kick after a blocked shot attempt, and placed the opportunity to Alexis Venegas, as she headed in her first goal of the season to give the Spartans a three-goal lead.
San José extended its lead to 4-0 just over three minutes later when Kareli Rodriguez put in the final goal of the match near post from a Carley McBeath throw in.
Head coach Lauren Hanson has preached to her team to put a full 90 minutes together especially after Friday's match, and the team responded to her message.
"Today the team progressed really well," said Hanson. "They came out today with the challenge of putting full 90 together. We were organized defensively. My challenge to them was to be vibrant in the attack, and want the ball."
The Spartan defense, anchored by Makrigiannis came up with its second shutout of the season.
"We're especially proud of the shutout," said Hanson. "Zoe stepped up today. She held down the fort, and we hope to continue that throughout the season."
The four goals for San José were the most since September 18, 2010 when the Spartans defeated Idaho State 4-1 in Reno, Nevada.
SPARTAN RANKINGS:
San José currently ranks tied for first in goals allowed (4) with New Mexico, and second in goals against average (0.80) in the Mountain West trailing only Boise State (0.78).
Junior goalkeeper Zoe Makrigiannis is tied for first in the conference with a pair of shutouts and her 19 saves is good enough for fourth in the Mountain West, while she holds the third position in save percentage (.826).
Kareli Rodriguez, leads the Spartans in goals scored with two, which is tied for seventh best in the Mountain West and her four points has her tied for eighth.
THE HANSON ERA HAS BEGUN:
On Sunday, August 31, 2014, Hanson earned her first victory as the head coach at San José with a 1-0 victory over Sacramento State at Spartan Soccer Field.
Hanson became the program's sixth head coach in December of 2013. A winner of NCAA Women's College Cup championships as a player (University of Portland, 2002) and an assistant coach (University of Portland, 2005), Hanson came to the Spartans from the University of Oregon where she was the associate head coach and the Ducks' recruiting coordinator.
ON DECK FOR THE SPARTANS:
San José State will play its fourth consecutive match away from home on Sunday, September 21 against San Francisco at 12:00 p.m. before kicking off its Mountain West conference slate at Spartan Soccer Field to host San Diego State on Friday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m.
A NEW HOME FOR SPARTAN SOCCER:
SJSU men and women's soccer have a new home in 2014. All home matches will be played at Spartan Soccer Field located at South Campus on Alma Street, between Seventh street and Senter Road.
LIVE STATS
Fans can follow the action of all San José State home and most road contests by accessing the "Live Stats" feature on the women's soccer schedule page at www.sjsuspartans.com.
VIDEO STREAMING
Spartan Digital is your ALL-ACCESS passport to Spartan Athletics. For live and recorded video and audio of San José State womens's soccer home games, go to the SPARTAN DIGITAL link on the home page at www.sjsuspartans.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Keep up with all 19 San José State teams through social media sites Twitter and Facebook. For Twitter go to @sjsuathletics and on Facebook become friends with Sammy Spartan.
A NEW HOME FOR SPARTAN SOCCER:
SJSU men and women's soccer have a new home in 2014. All home matches will be played at Spartan Soccer Field located at South Campus on Alma Street, between Seventh street and Senter Road.
#SpartanUp