SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State women's soccer returns to the home pitch this Friday evening for the final nonconference match of the season as they host the University of Portland Pilots to the South Bay for a 7:00 p.m. kick at the Spartan Soccer Complex.
Full game notes are attached.
FLASHBACK FRIDAY:
The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free SJSU Throwback T-shirt.
LAST TIME OUT
» The Spartans played well, but Arizona came away victorious last weekend at the Spartan Soccer Complex. The Wildcats scored the lone match of the day in the 30th minute.
A FAMILIAR OPPONENT
» Head Coach Lauren Hanson is very familiar with the Portland Pilots. She was a three-time All-American selection as a centerback for the Pilots and was team captain for the 2002 squad that won the Women's College Cup. Hanson and
Portland head coach Michelle French were teammates as well.
ROMERO SHUTOUT TRACKER: 4
» Sophomore goalkeeper Ariana Romero has proven to be a worthy successor in the goal despite being tasked with replacing one of the best keepers in school history in Paige Simoneau. In five games, the transfer from Seattle U has posted four clean sheets, which ranks second in the MW and ranks 41st nationally.
SHUTTING OUT THE OPPOSITION
» SJSU's vaunted defense prided themselves in pitching shutouts in 2018. They compiled a school-record 11 of them, which ranked fourth in the nation heading into the NCAA Tournament. So far in 2019 the trend has continued as the young season has already seen four shutouts.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION - PORTLAND
» Led by Hanson's Portland teammate Michelle French, the Pilots are 2-2-2 on the season and return a bulk of last season's squad (eight starters, 17 letterwinners).
SERIES HISTORY - PORTLAND
» San Jose State and Portland have met four times previously with the Pilots owning a 3-1-0 record. The Spartans' lone win came on the road in 1999. Last season, the teams squared off in Portland in a 1-0 overtime win for the Pilots.
HANSON PICKS UP WIN NO. 50
» The Spartans' win over LMU was the 50th of head coach Lauren Hanson's career with SJSU. She is just the second coach in SJSU history to accumulate 50 wins and now needs just four more to become the school's all-time winningest head coach. Hanson has compiled a record of 51-38-21 and is the third-fastest among current active women's soccer head coaches in the Mountain West to reach the 50-win mark.
» Hanson is also just two wins away from tying the school record for most career wins (John Poch - 53-44-3).
GEARING UP FOR CONFERENCE PLAY
» This is the final nonconference match of the season for the Spartans. SJSU will begin Mountain West play next weekend in
Colorado Springs against Colorado College and Air Force.
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
» The SJSU women's soccer coaching staff has a lot of experience when it comes to playing for and winning championships. The trio of Hanson, Tina Estrada and Adrianne Fass have combined for 16 combined trips to the NCAA Tournament as players and coaches as well as three College Cup Championships.