Redhawks to Face First Road Opponents of WAC Schedule: After recently completing a four-game homestand, including their first three Western Athletic Conference contests, Seattle University women’s soccer (6-2-2, 3-0-0 WAC) hits the road for three straight including Bakersfield (Oct. 4) and Utah Valley (Oct. 6) this weekend. As Utah Valley is the only other undefeated team in the WAC, Sunday’s matchup could be a potential battle for first place. Stephanie Verdoia and Monique Escalera were named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, bringing the team’s total to five for 2013. Since allowing Grand Canyon to score a goal in the first half of the contest on Sept. 20, Seattle U has scored 13 straight unanswered goals in three straight shutouts and four straight wins. Links to available live stats are on the women’s soccer schedule page at GoSeattleU.com.
Redhawks Tied for First in WAC Standings: After two weekends of conference play, Seattle U and Utah Valley, tied at 3-0-0, each have a perfect record in league competition.
Regional Rankings: After receiving votes in last week’s poll, the Redhawks move up into the top 10 in the Oct. 1 edition of the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women’s West Regional Poll.
Verdoia and Escalera Named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week (Sept. 23-29): Verdoia and Escalera were named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, a career first for Escalera and the third of Verdoia’s career, including second straight, bringing Seattle U’s 2013 total to five. Over the weekend, Verdoia, a junior forward, scored three goals, two versus New Mexico State, also recording three assists. She scored game-winning goals in both 3-0 shutouts versus Kansas City and NMSU, tallying a season high eight shots versus the Aggies. Combined, she recorded 13 shots, five on goal, three goals, three assists, and nine points in the two matches. Escalera, a senior defender, led the Seattle U defense to a pair of 3-0 shutout WAC wins vs. Kansas City and New Mexico State. Escalera led the Redhawk backline who allowed just six shots, one on goal, in two matches over the weekend. This season, Escalera has started all 10 matches, recording four shots of her own, two on goal. Verdoia was also named WAC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness for the second straight week.
Scouting Bakersfield (1-8-1, 0-2-1 WAC): After defeating Southern Utah to open the season on Aug. 23, the Roadrunners went on a eight game losing streak before tying Grand Canyon on Sept. 27 in their most recent match. Erica Shelton leads the team with three goals, two assists, eight points, and 23 shots, 16 on goal. In goal, Tori Ornela has started seven contests, recording 29 saves and 2.55 GAA while Megan Vina has made three starts and five appearances, recording 21 saves and 1.97 GAA. Melissa Phillips, in her third season at the helm, was the youngest head coach in Division I upon her hire in 2011 at age 23. This is the first time the Redhawks and Runners will meet as conference foes, but Seattle U holds a 10-0 all-time record over CSUB, last winning 3-1 on Oct. 14, 2011 in Bakersfield. Still looking for their first conference win, Bakersfield hosts Seattle U (Oct. 4) and Idaho (Oct. 6) this weekend.
Scouting Utah Valley (5-5-0, 3-0-0 WAC): Utah Valley enters this weekend on a four-game winning streak and their contest with Seattle U on Sunday could potentially be a battle for first place in the conference, as they are the only other undefeated team in league play. To open WAC competition, Utah Valley defeated Bakersfield twice, both by a 2-0 score, as well as Grand Canyon, 5-3. Three different Wolverines lead the team with four goals as Haley Curtis and Natalie Baker each add two assists apiece. In goal, Lauren Sack has started 9 games recording 50 saves and 1.50 GAA while Jessica Duffin has made eight saves in one start and three appearances. Brent Anderson, in his eighth season leading the squad, is the longest tenured head coach in program history.
New Mexico State (9/29): Seattle University women’s soccer earned their third straight shutout as they topped New Mexico State, 3-0, in a Western Athletic Conference contest. The Redhawks extend their winning streak to four games and their home winning streak to five. In the 27th minute, Stephanie Verdoia scored what would be the game winner on a cross by Taylor Ritzman to put the Redhawks ahead, 1-0. Soon after the halftime break, Verdoia struck again, knocking the ball straight past the keeper’s side on an assist by Kiana Kraft. In the beginning of the 83rd minute, Natasha Howe would add a goal for insurance, her fourth of the season, this time assisted by Verdoia, as the Redhawks came away with the shutout. Verdoia led Seattle U with two goals, an assist, and eight shots, four on goal. Ava Ames added seven shots, one on goal. Eight different Redhawks took at least one shot, as they outshot the Aggies, 27-3. In goal, Brianna Smallidge recorded one save in the win while New Mexico State’s Jessica Schutter made six saves, allowing all three goals. Since allowing Grand Canyon to score a goal in the first half on Sept. 20, the Redhawks have now scored 13 straight unanswered goals in four matches.
Kansas City (9/27): Seattle University women’s soccer scored early and continued their threat as they shut out Kansas City, 3-0, in Western Athletic Conference play. This is the second straight shutout for the Redhawks as they are on a three-game overall winning streak and four-game home winning streak. Just 20 seconds into the match, Stephanie Verdoia put the Redhawks ahead 1-0 on a cross by Natasha Howe. The Redhawks had a prime opportunity to add to their score in the 24th minute as Taylor Ritzman side kicked the ball near the left side of the goal, but the ball bounced off the side post. In the 31st minute, Ritzman sailed the ball in for her first goal of the season on a cross by Verdoia to give Seattle U the 2-0 lead going into halftime. In the 53rd minute, Howe added a goal of her own, assisted by Kat Prati and Verdoia to give SU a 3-0 lead, which proved to be the final score. Ava Ames led the Redhawks with six shots, while Verdoia added five. Overall, SU outshot UMKC, 20-3. In goal, Brianna Smallidge earned the win, while Aris Coover entered in the second half, making her second appearance of the season. Since allowing Grand Canyon to score in the first half of SU’s 3-1 win on Sept. 20, Seattle U has now scored 10 straight unanswered goals.
Redhawks Tied for First in WAC Standings: After two weekends of conference play, Seattle U and Utah Valley, tied at 3-0-0, each have a perfect record in league competition.
Regional Rankings: After receiving votes in last week’s poll, the Redhawks move up into the top 10 in the Oct. 1 edition of the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women’s West Regional Poll.
Verdoia and Escalera Named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week (Sept. 23-29): Verdoia and Escalera were named WAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, a career first for Escalera and the third of Verdoia’s career, including second straight, bringing Seattle U’s 2013 total to five. Over the weekend, Verdoia, a junior forward, scored three goals, two versus New Mexico State, also recording three assists. She scored game-winning goals in both 3-0 shutouts versus Kansas City and NMSU, tallying a season high eight shots versus the Aggies. Combined, she recorded 13 shots, five on goal, three goals, three assists, and nine points in the two matches. Escalera, a senior defender, led the Seattle U defense to a pair of 3-0 shutout WAC wins vs. Kansas City and New Mexico State. Escalera led the Redhawk backline who allowed just six shots, one on goal, in two matches over the weekend. This season, Escalera has started all 10 matches, recording four shots of her own, two on goal. Verdoia was also named WAC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness for the second straight week.
Scouting Bakersfield (1-8-1, 0-2-1 WAC): After defeating Southern Utah to open the season on Aug. 23, the Roadrunners went on a eight game losing streak before tying Grand Canyon on Sept. 27 in their most recent match. Erica Shelton leads the team with three goals, two assists, eight points, and 23 shots, 16 on goal. In goal, Tori Ornela has started seven contests, recording 29 saves and 2.55 GAA while Megan Vina has made three starts and five appearances, recording 21 saves and 1.97 GAA. Melissa Phillips, in her third season at the helm, was the youngest head coach in Division I upon her hire in 2011 at age 23. This is the first time the Redhawks and Runners will meet as conference foes, but Seattle U holds a 10-0 all-time record over CSUB, last winning 3-1 on Oct. 14, 2011 in Bakersfield. Still looking for their first conference win, Bakersfield hosts Seattle U (Oct. 4) and Idaho (Oct. 6) this weekend.
Scouting Utah Valley (5-5-0, 3-0-0 WAC): Utah Valley enters this weekend on a four-game winning streak and their contest with Seattle U on Sunday could potentially be a battle for first place in the conference, as they are the only other undefeated team in league play. To open WAC competition, Utah Valley defeated Bakersfield twice, both by a 2-0 score, as well as Grand Canyon, 5-3. Three different Wolverines lead the team with four goals as Haley Curtis and Natalie Baker each add two assists apiece. In goal, Lauren Sack has started 9 games recording 50 saves and 1.50 GAA while Jessica Duffin has made eight saves in one start and three appearances. Brent Anderson, in his eighth season leading the squad, is the longest tenured head coach in program history.
New Mexico State (9/29): Seattle University women’s soccer earned their third straight shutout as they topped New Mexico State, 3-0, in a Western Athletic Conference contest. The Redhawks extend their winning streak to four games and their home winning streak to five. In the 27th minute, Stephanie Verdoia scored what would be the game winner on a cross by Taylor Ritzman to put the Redhawks ahead, 1-0. Soon after the halftime break, Verdoia struck again, knocking the ball straight past the keeper’s side on an assist by Kiana Kraft. In the beginning of the 83rd minute, Natasha Howe would add a goal for insurance, her fourth of the season, this time assisted by Verdoia, as the Redhawks came away with the shutout. Verdoia led Seattle U with two goals, an assist, and eight shots, four on goal. Ava Ames added seven shots, one on goal. Eight different Redhawks took at least one shot, as they outshot the Aggies, 27-3. In goal, Brianna Smallidge recorded one save in the win while New Mexico State’s Jessica Schutter made six saves, allowing all three goals. Since allowing Grand Canyon to score a goal in the first half on Sept. 20, the Redhawks have now scored 13 straight unanswered goals in four matches.
Kansas City (9/27): Seattle University women’s soccer scored early and continued their threat as they shut out Kansas City, 3-0, in Western Athletic Conference play. This is the second straight shutout for the Redhawks as they are on a three-game overall winning streak and four-game home winning streak. Just 20 seconds into the match, Stephanie Verdoia put the Redhawks ahead 1-0 on a cross by Natasha Howe. The Redhawks had a prime opportunity to add to their score in the 24th minute as Taylor Ritzman side kicked the ball near the left side of the goal, but the ball bounced off the side post. In the 31st minute, Ritzman sailed the ball in for her first goal of the season on a cross by Verdoia to give Seattle U the 2-0 lead going into halftime. In the 53rd minute, Howe added a goal of her own, assisted by Kat Prati and Verdoia to give SU a 3-0 lead, which proved to be the final score. Ava Ames led the Redhawks with six shots, while Verdoia added five. Overall, SU outshot UMKC, 20-3. In goal, Brianna Smallidge earned the win, while Aris Coover entered in the second half, making her second appearance of the season. Since allowing Grand Canyon to score in the first half of SU’s 3-1 win on Sept. 20, Seattle U has now scored 10 straight unanswered goals.