SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San José State women's soccer team (0-0, 0-0 Mountain West) will play host on the season-opening weekend with their first two games against No. 22 Santa Clara (0-0, 0-0 WCC) on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. presented by Habana Cuba before hosting Saint Mary’s (0-0, 0-0 WCC) at 12 p.m. on Sunday from Spartan Soccer Complex.
SCHEDULE (Spartan Soccer Complex | San Jose, Calif.)
- Thursday at 6:30 p.m. PDT vs. No. 22 Santa Clara presented by Habana Cuba
- Sunday at 12:00 p.m. PDT vs. Saint Mary’s
WHAT'S NEW
- The Spartans will welcome seven freshman newcomers to the squad, three forwards in Payton Hoover, Sophia Martel and Atianna Fuamatu-Ma’afala as well as two midfielders, one defender and one goalkeeper in Lillyanna Rodriguez, Cammy Ventura, Charlotte Memoly and Skylinne Avalos.
- The Spartans have a new assistant coach in former player Darriell Franklin who played for SJSU from 2015-2018, helping lead the team to two Mountain West Championship titles. Franklin played multiple positions throughout her career, splitting time between defender and forward. She was a three-time All-Mountain West selection at multiple positions and was named the 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. She still holds the school record for most goals in a freshman season with nine.
- The program also has a new Director of Operations in Bay Area native, Divya Tunwal. Tunwal comes to SJSU by way of UC Berkeley after spending a year working as the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative intern for the Cal Golden Bears.
RECORD WATCH
- Bente Pernot enters her junior season as the current all-time Spartans' leader in goals-against average at 0.89.
- The former goalkeeper for the U14 and U17 Dutch National Team has recorded the fourth-most shutouts in Spartans' history with 10. She is one shutout away from tying Amee Brown (1996-99), who recorded 11 clean sheets.
- At 168 career saves, Pernot is one save away from tying the Spartans' assistant coach, Paige Simoneau (2015-18), for seventh.
VS. No. 22 SANTA CLARA PRESENTED BY HABANA CUBA
- The first home game of the season will be presented by Habana Cuba.
- In 2023, the Santa Clara Broncos made the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive year, losing in the second round to Penn State. The Broncos finished the season with a record of 14-5-2 and 6-2 in the West Coast Conference.
- The Spartans and Broncos have played each other nine times since 2006 and four of the last five consecutive seasons. In their last meeting at Stevens Stadium, Santa Clara won 2-1.
- In the match, Taylor Phillips scored a goal and Pernot led the Spartans with 11 saves.
VS. SAINT MARY’S
- In 2023, the Saint Mary’s Gaels registered a record of 10-5-3 and finished tied for fourth place in the West Coast Conference, their highest finish since 2003.
- The Spartans and Gaels have played nine times since 2006 and will play each other this year for the third consecutive season. In their last meeting on Sept. 3, 2023 in Moraga, the Gaels won 2-0.
- In the match, Kennedy Mayo fired off two shots with one on goal and Pernot led the Spartans with three saves.
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