Oct. 11, 2016
SPARTANS RETURN HOME FOR WEEK FOUR OF MW PLAYThe San José State women's soccer team welcomes Wyoming and Colorado State to the SJSU Football Practice Field in the fourth week of Mountain West play. San José State enters the week in fifth place, and has already played the four teams ahead of them. The Spartans have a chance to end Wyoming's three-game win streak when the two teams meet on Friday at noon. Then, SJSU will try to beat Colorado State for the third straight time on Sunday. Both matches will air live on the Mountain West Network and both are the first up as part of an SJSU men's and women's soccer doubleheader.Matches #15-16San José State (6-4-4, 3-2-1 MW) vs. Wyoming (7-6-1, 3-3-0 MW)Friday, October 14, 2016, 12:00 p.m. (PT)SJSU Practice FieldSan Jose, Calif.
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San José State (6-4-4, 3-2-1 MW) vs. Colorado State (3-9-2, 1-4-1 MW)Sunday, October 16, 2016, 12:00 p.m. (PT)SJSU Practice FieldSan Jose, Calif.
Live Streaming
PIVOTAL WEEK AHEAD ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN WESTSan José State begins the week in fifth place and with 10 points on the Mountain West table. SJSU has already played the four teams (Utah State, UNLV, Boise State, San Diego State) which stand ahead, going 2-1-1. While there are still three weeks of regular season MW play remaining, every match is crucial for climbing the latter as the Mountain West Tournament approaches in the first week of November.SPARTANS START FASTSan José State has scored within the first 25 minutes in six of the last seven matches, totaling nine goals. The 0-0 tie at Boise State last Friday was the first time SJSU has been shutout in conference play. Yaritza Arista (Jr., MF, Livingston, Calif.) and Alexis Venegas (Sr., MF, Van Nuys, Calif.) have been a big part of the Spartans' quick starts, each scoring twice in the first 25 minutes of a conference match.DEFENSE STAYS ON TOPDespite a pair of goals given up in the 2-1 loss at Utah State on Sunday, San José State still has the top-ranked defense in the Mountain West through all games. Eleven (11) goals in 14 matches are the fewest in the league and the team's 0.72 goals against average is also first. Colorado College and San José State share the league lead with seven shutouts.OFFENSE NOT FAR BEHINDIn Mountain West play, San José State's offense is third among the 12 teams with 11 goals. Utah State and UNLV are tied at the top with 13 each. The Spartans' 10 assists are tied for the league lead. SJSU's scoring statistics are among the league's best despite being seventh in shots per game (13.0). Alexis Venegas leads the team with four goals and 10 points.STAUNCH BACK LINE HEADLINES DEFENSIVE PROWESSThere aren't any stats for it in the box score, but San José State's back line is the toughest to crack in the Mountain West. The Spartans faced two of the league's leading shot takers last weekend in Boise State's Sherle Raimee and Utah State's Jessica Brooksby. While Brooksby scored twice, one was on a penalty kick and the other was in a last-gasp attempt during a busted play in the 87th minute. Raimee was shutdown to the tune of three total shots for the match with none going on goal. Kristen Amarikwa (Fr., D, Bakersfield, Calif.), Myia Wilkes (Jr., D, Calgary, Alberta), Hayden Kelley (Sr., D, Murrieta, Calif.) and Claire Berkley (Jr., D, Pleasanton, Calif.) are responsible for holding down the opponents' final third.HOPPIUS TRAINS WITH GERMANY AGAINLast week Dorthe Hoppius (Jr., F, Dorsten, Germany) attended her third German National Team training camp in less than a year. With the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup beginning on November 13, every invitation gives Hoppius more experience and more exposure to the team which will be naming its World Cup roster soon. Hoppius is currently the Spartans' shots and assists leader while being second with three goals of her own.THE WORD ON WYOMINGWyoming has won three straight matches heading into the week. The Cowgirls beat Nevada, Air Force and Colorado College by a combined score of 8-2. The three-game win streak is a welcome sight to the team which had lost six out of eight before the run. Michaela Stark leads the team with five goals and 11 points. There have been 11 different goal scorers for Wyoming in 2016. While playing terrific at home (5-1-1), Wyoming is 2-5-0 on the road.LAST MEETING WITH WYOMINGDarriell Franklin netted a golden goal in overtime on the road at Wyoming last season in the Mountain West opener for both schools. The win fueled the Spartans to a sweep of opening weekend and ultimately got the ball rolling on an 8-3-0 conference record in 2015. San José State is 4-1-0 all time against Wyoming.THE WORD ON COLORADO STATEThe Rams come into this week 3-9-2 overall and 1-4-1 in Mountain West play. While the record may not be stellar, it's not a team to be taken lightly. CSU defeated Nevada, 3-1, took Boise State to overtime on the road and last Sunday tied with Air Force. The Rams are coached by Bill Hempen, who ranks in the NCAA's top-20 for his 285 career wins.LAST MEETING WITH COLORADO STATEThe Spartans shutout the Rams last season on the road, 2-0. It was only the second time that the programs had met. Both meetings came as Mountain West members and both resulted in Spartan victories.