Oct. 7, 2002
SAN DIEGO -
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This Week in Aztec Soccer * The women's soccer team returns home to face the New Mexico Lobos on Friday in San Diego State's Mountain West Conference opener. * SDSU will break from league action to play the Nevada Wolf Pack on Sunday, the Aztecs' only WAC competitor of the season.
SDSU in the Mountain West * Since its arrival into the MWC in 1999, the Aztecs have posted an 11-6-1 (.638) record in league matches, and a 16-21 (.432) mark in non-conference games. * San Diego State was tabbed to finish fourth this year in the Moutain West. The Aztecs notched a fifth-place finish in the conference last year.
There's No Place Like Home * With the Aztecs' 2-1 win over UC Santa Barbara last Sunday, SDSU remains undefeated at home this season, sporting a perfect 4-0 record at the Sports Deck. * SDSU posted its best home record, 7-1-1, in 1998. * The Aztecs are 78-36-10 (.669) all-time at home.
Findlay, A Fabulous Find * Senior Nicole Findlay scored two of the Aztecs' three goals en route to SDSU's 3-0 shoutout against Long Beach State. Her first goal of the season came in the Aztecs' victory over Weber State. The Fairfield, Calif., native has also notched two assists for a total of eight points so far in 2002. * Findlay transfered to SDSU from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2000. In her first year as an Aztec the forward took 37 shots and knocked in four goals. * Findlay suffered a season-ending injury in the third match of the 2001 season, but made the most of her short campaign, posting three goals and taking seven shots in the games against Montana and Eastern Washington.
Injury Update * The Aztecs have been playing without the assistance of four of their starters in Kim Castellanos, Hannah Garl, Erica Lopez and Noelle Jouglet. * Garl sustained an injury to her ankle in the game against North Carolina State, while Castellanos injured her ankle in the match with UCSB. Lopez and Jouglet are also out due to ankle injuries. * Castellanos is expected to return to action on Friday. Lopez and Jouglet are probable for the match against New Mexico as well.
Did You Know? * The 2002 squad is tied for the second-best start in the program's 14-year history, as the 1999 NCAA tournament-bound team also owned a 7-3 record after the first 10 games...The 1998 edition, who also advanced to the NCAA tournament, had the best start, boasting a 9-1 record in the first 10 games... Eight different Aztecs have scored goals this season...13 Aztecs have been credited with at least one assist...The SDSU bench has combined for a total of five goals, eight assists and 25 shots...Tuesday's victory over LBSU was the first time this year the Aztecs have won without Kim Castellanos posting either a goal or an assist...SDSU's 4-1 loss to Pepperdine was the first time the Aztecs have not lost by way of a shutout.
Season Firsts * Sophomore Courtney Burns and freshman Ashley Cooper got their first starts in Sunday's match against Pepperdine. Cooper recorded one shot. * Sophomore Brianna Weymouth posted her first assist as an Aztec in SDSU's win over Long Beach State. The Phoenix, Ariz., native has been seeing more playing time as of late, making appearances in SDSU's last three games. * Freshman Erica Lopez, who has already proven herself to be a play-maker by posting three assists so far this season, recorded her first collegiate goal in the Aztecs' victory over UC Santa Barbara. * Noelle Jouglet, a sophomore from Helix High School, posted her first goal of the season, as well as her first as an Aztec, against Montana. Senior Michele Wagner also notched her first assist of the year against the Griz. * Three Aztecs earned career-firsts in SDSU's match with North Carolina State. Junior Sheila Dayog earned her first point as a Division I athlete with an assist to Kim Castellanos. Freshman Amanda Swiader knocked in the first goal of her collegiate career off an assist from senior Boo Tinling, her first as an Aztec.
Conference Notables * SDSU leads the Mountain West in assists (23) and is third in total points (63). * Despite missing two games due to injury, Kim Castellanos continues to lead the MWC in points per game (2.00) and assists per game (0.50) and is second in total points (16), goals (6) and assists (4).
Scouting New Mexico * The Aztecs hold a 5-2-1 advantage over the Lobos, with a 2-2-1 mark against the Lobos since the two teams began meeting as MWC opponents. * New Mexico currently owns a 7-5-0 overall record and is fourth among other Moutain West teams. *UNM is led by freshman Marte Dolva and junior Erchen Theys, who each have five goals and three assists for 13 points. * New Mexico is most recently coming off a loss to Oregon State.
About Nevada * The Wolf Pack posess a 3-9-0 record, 0-2-0 in conference play, and has lost four straight. *Sophomore forward Annie Baxter has a team-high four goals to go along with one assist for a total of nine points. * Sunday's match is the first ever between the Aztecs and Wolf Pack.