Sept. 22, 2015
The San José State women's soccer team begins this week with a clean slate as the Mountain West season is now upon us. The Spartans open up with tough matches on the road and in the altitude against Wyoming (Sept. 25) and Colorado State (Sept. 27). Both matches will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network, which can be accessed with the links below or on the women's soccer schedule page.
Fans can also keep up with scoring updates by following Spartan women's soccer on Twitter @sjsusoccer.
Matches #9-10
San José State (2-4-2, 0-0-0 MW) at Wyoming (7-1-3, 0-0-0 MW)
Friday, September 25, 2015, 4:00 p.m. MT
Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex (1,500)
Laramie, Wyo.
Live Video
San José State (2-4-2, 0-0-0 MW) at Colorado State (3-5-1, 0-0-0 MW)
Sunday, September 27, 2015, 1:00 p.m. MT
The Lagoon (2,000)
Fort Collins, Colo.
CONFERENCE SEASON IS UPON US
After losing three straight, San José State will begin conference play with a blank slate and head out on the road to face Wyoming in the MW opener. The Cowgirls are on top of the MW standings after going 4-1-3 in their nonconference action, and they lead the league in shutouts with five. However, San José State has scored in 11 consecutive matches dating back to last season, and the Spartans control the all-time series 3-2.
MORE ON THE MATCHUPS
Wyoming has a 10-match winning streak at home dating back to the 2013 season. UNLV handed the Cowgirls their last defeat at home on Oct. 27, 2013. The Cowgirls handed the Spartans a 2-0 loss last season at Spartan Soccer Field. It was the last time San José State was shutout, and the team responded by winning three in a row to end the regular season. San José State beat Colorado State 3-0 last season in the first meeting between the two programs. The win for the Spartans was a piece of the strong finish to last season where they won five of the last six matches. This season, Colorado State is 3-5-1 overall and is 0-1-1 at home.
UP UP AND AWAY
The Spartans begin conference play with two matches on the road against Mountain West opponents located at the highest altitudes: Laramie, Wyoming (7,200 ft.) and Fort Collins, Colo. (5,000 ft.). The Spartans got solid production off of the bench in their last outing against CSUN and that lift could be essential during the next two contests at high altitude.
HOPPIUS RECORDS 10TH SPARTAN HAT TRICK
Sophomore forward Dorthe Hoppius recorded San José State's 10th hat trick in program history last Sunday versus CSUN. Two of her three goals were go-ahead scores for the Spartans. It was the first hat trick since Kayla Santacruz scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Utah State in October of 2010.
THREE HELPERS LEAD TO HOPPIUS HAT TRICK
All three of Hoppius' goals versus CSUN were assisted, and it was the first time SJSU has had three or more helpers in a match since Oct. 17, 2014, in a 3-0 win over Colorado State. Darlene Rodriguez was credited with two assists while Carley McBeath dished out her team-leading third assist, which helped complete the hat trick.
SPARTANS CAN SCORE IT
San José State women's soccer has scored in 11 consecutive matches dating back to last season. The next closest Mountain West team in that category is this Friday's opponent, Wyoming, which has scored in five consecutive contests. Ironically, the Spartans were last shutout by Wyoming, 2-0, on Oct. 19, 2014.
SHARING THE WEALTH
Continuing a trend from last season, six different Spartans have found the back of the net in 2015. Darlene Rodriguez, Dorthe Hoppius and Darriell Franklin each have three goals to lead the team. Maricruz Chapa has added two goals, and Samantha Orodpour and Claire Berkley each have one. In 2014, San José State had a Mountain West leading 12 different goal scorers.
TEAM CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ SHOWS THE WAY
Senior attacking midfielder Darlene Rodriguez has embraced her role as a team captain this season and is leading the team in multiple categories as the Spartans begin MW play this week. Rodriguez has eight points thus far, made up by her three goals and two assists. She also leads the team with 11 shots on goal. The San Jose, Calif., native has eclipsed nearly all of her statistics from last season in just eight thus far in 2015.
CONNECT WITH YOUR 2015 SPARTANS
Spartan women's soccer has an active social media agenda this year and they want you to be a part of it. Get familiar with the faces by following the official Instagram account @sjsuwomenssoccer. Also, interact with the team during social media player takeovers on the official Twitter (@sjsusoccer) and Facebook (/sjsuwsoc) pages.
SPARTANS FALL TO CSUN, 4-3
Despite Dorthe Hoppius' efforts with the hat trick, San José State fell to CSUN on Sunday, 4-3. It was the most goals SJSU has allowed all season and it led to a third consecutive loss. San José State followed up a three-match losing streak last season by winning five of its next six matches.
SPARTANS WILL FOCUS ON HOLDING LEADS DURING MW PLAY
San José State has led in seven out of eight matches this season. However, the team has allowed four come-from-behind victories and one tie to the opponents.
FRANKLIN WINS MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Freshman forward Darriell Franklin (Fr., F, La Habra, Calif.) was named the MW Offensive Player of the Week for Aug. 23-30. She became the first Spartan freshman to win a conference player of the week since Mikaella Meibock in 2012. In two matches, Franklin put three out of five shots on goal and two in the back of the net.
SPARTANS PICKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The voting panel of the 12 Mountain West women's soccer head coaches picked San José State to finish in seventh place this season in the preseason poll. The results have three-time defending regular-season and tournament champion San Diego State winning it all again in 2015. The Spartans received 53 points, putting them even with UNLV in seventh place ahead of Air Force, Fresno State, Colorado State and Nevada.