SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State women's soccer is ready to put the preseason behind them and turn full attention to the Mountain West slate ahead. The Spartans kick-off conference play this weekend with back-to-back road games in Colorado Springs. Game one will be Friday night at 6:00 p.m. PT against Colorado College and the second game will be played at the United States Air Force Academy at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday.
LOOKING TO REPEAT
» The Spartans begin conference play this weekend and are looking to repeat as Mountain West Champions again in 2019. Since joining the conference, SJSU has a 37-21-7 record, has won two tournament titles and won the regular season title in 2017. The defending tournament champion took care of business on their home turf last season in the conference tournament with wins over Fresno State, Boise State and New Mexico.
LAST TIME OUT
» SJSU wrapped up the nonconference slate with a tough 2-1 loss in overtime against Portland. Jamilecxth Becerra put the Spartans on the board first in the ninth minute with her second goal of the season, but the Pilots tied the score late in the final minutes and scored the game-winner three minutes into overtime.
SHUTTING OUT THE OPPOSITION
» SJSU's terrific 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 OPPONENT - COLORADO COLLEGE
» The Colorado College Tigers have had an impressive start to the season, finishing 5-1-0 in nonconference play. Three of their players rank in the top five in the Mountain West in points led by Jenna Wilt, who is averaging 2.0 per game.
SERIES HISTORY - COLORADO COLLEGE
» San Jose State owns a perfect 5-0 record against Colorado College. The teams have played once each season since SJSU joined the conference in 2014. Last year, the Spartans kicked off MW play with a 1-0 victory at home.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT - AIR FORCE
» The Air Force Falcons also have enjoyed a successful start to their season. They are 5-1-1 on the year and will open conference play with Fresno State on Friday. Their offense is averaging 2.29 goals per game and forward Lexi Romero is the conference leader in points per game with 2.14.
SERIES HISTORY - AIR FORCE
» Sunday's match will be the 10th meeting all time between the programs. SJSU has excelled in year's past, owning a 7-1-1 record against the Falcons. The Spartans have won the last five meetings dating back to 2014.
AMAZING AMARIKWA
» Senior defender Kristen Amarikwa is without question one of the top leaders on the Spartans' roster. She is also considered one of the best players in the nation, checking in as No. 66 in Top Drawer Soccer's preseason top 100. She is also the lone Mountain West candidate on the 30-member list for the Senior CLASS Award.
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 51-39-21 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).
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.