Oct. 11, 2005
SAN DIEGO -
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This Week's Action
The Aztecs (9-6) continue their four-game road trip to start Mountain West Conference play with two matches this weekend. On Friday, SDSU will take on New Mexico at 5 p.m MDT. On Sunday, the Aztecs will travel to TCU, the newest addition to the MWC, for a 1 p.m. CDT match.
Out Of The Gates
*The Aztecs are hoping to ride the momentum of one of their most successful starts in school history. The nine wins by Oct. 9 are the program's most since they had 10 in 1998. SDSU went 19-3-1 in 1998 and made it to their first-ever NCAA tournament, advancing to the third round before falling to perennial powerhouse Portland. The 19 wins were the most in the program's 17-year history.
*With a victory in one of its next two matches, SDSU will reach 10 wins in a season for the first time since 2002, when they went on to finish 13-7 (3-3 MWC).
So Close...
*Nine wins by Oct. 9 is pretty impressive, but think how much better SDSU's record could be. Consider this:
*Of SDSU's six losses this season, five have come with opponents scoring in the last eight minutes of play.
*Three of the Aztecs' losses have come in overtime. Last season, SDSU was 1-0-6 in extra periods.
*66.7 percent (10-of-15) of SDSU's games this season have been decided by one goal, the highest percentage in the MWC. The 10 one-goal games, in which the Aztecs are 5-5, are also the most of any team in the MWC. Considering 75.8 percent of the SDSU roster are underclassmen and the team averages 5.7 starts per game, a .500 record is a very good mark.
Better Late Then Never
*Through the first 15 games, the 2005 Aztecs have been a second half team. SDSU has scored 14 of its 19 goals (73.7 percent) in the second session and has 26 more shots (97-71) than it has in the first half.
*The Aztecs have outscored their opponents, 14-7, in the second half and have outshot the opposition, 97-79.
Youth Is Served
*It's hard to believe, but 25 of the 33 Aztecs (75.8 percent) on the roster are underclassmen (freshmen or sophomores). The 75.8 percentage of underclassmen is the highest in the MWC, followed by Wyoming (72.4), Air Force (64.5), Utah (62.5), TCU (60.9), Brigham Young (58.1), UNLV (57.1) and New Mexico (55.2).
*The production of the underclassmen is obvious, but the transfers have also contributed. Consider this for the underclassmen and transfers (UAT) through the first 15 games:
*The UAT average 8.2 starts per game (5.7 spg by freshmen)
*The UAT have played 100 percent (1,370+-of-1,370+) of the time in goal (66.1 percent (906+-of-1,370+) by freshmen)
*The UAT have scored 84.2 percent (16-of-19) of the goals (73.7 percent (14-of-19) by freshmen)
*The UAT have had 85 percent (17-of-20) of the assists (60 percent (12-of-20) by freshmen)
*The UAT have had 84.4 percent (49-of-58) of the points (70 percent (40-of-58) by freshmen)
*The UAT have taken 88.2 percent (149-of-169) of the shots (67.4 percent (114-of-169) by freshmen)
*The UAT have taken 87.0 percent (67-of-77) of the shots on goal (63.6 percent (49-of-77) by freshmen)
*The UAT (and freshmen) have scored 88.9 percent (8-of-9) of the game-winning goals
The Ball Stops Here...
*Freshman Christi Yount is off to an excellent start in her first season on The Mesa. In 10 games, Yount is 6-4 with a 1.09 goals against average. She has 35 saves (76.1 save percentage) and four shutouts.
*On Aug. 26 against Cal State Fullerton, Yount became the first Aztec freshman to start an opening game in net since Katherine Judkins in 1996. Judkins is among the school leaders in many categories including career shutouts (first, 23.5), career saves (second, 192), career GAA (second, 0.97), GAA in a season (first, 0.61 in 1998) and shutouts in a season (second, 10.5 in 1998).
*Katie Sullivan (1997) was the last SDSU goalie to see any playing time as a freshman goalkeeper.
*Click on the PDF file for a comparison of all freshmen goalkeepers in SDSU history.
...And There
*Sophomore Cat Burson, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, has got the starting nod in net five of the last six games for the Aztecs. In 464:23, Burson is 3-2 with a 0.58 GAA and two shutouts. She has faced 52 shots and has a remarkable 88.5 save percentage.
*While playing for the Big West Champion Gauchos in 2004, Burson appeared in seven games, finishing with a 3-2-1 record in 599 minutes. She posted a 0.60 goals against average, best on the team, and had three shutouts. Burson had 27 saves and a team-best 87.1 save percentage.
*Click on the PDF file for a comparison betweem Burson this year at SDSU and last season with UCSB.
The Mello And Sutton Connection
*The Aztec coaching staff must be excited knowing that they will have the freshmen tandem of Jen Mello and Erika Sutton for four years. The duo is responsible for 50 percent of the team's points (29/58 points) thus far and four of Mello's team-leading seven goals have been off assists from Sutton. Sutton's six assists are also tops on the team.
*Mello's seven goals are the most by an Aztec since Kim Castellanos scored 10 times in 2002 and Sutton's six assists are the most since Castellanos and Nicole Findlay each had six that same year.
*The Aztecs are 7-1 when Sutton records at least one point, 6-1 when Mello does the same and 5-1 when each contribute at least one point.
*Click on the PDF file for a comparison of Mello and Sutton with other freshmen duos in Aztec history.
What A Difference A Year Makes
*After 15 games in 2005, SDSU's 9-6 (.600) record is .167 percentage points better than last year's record of 4-6-5 (.433) after 15 matches. However, the improvement doesn't only stop in the win-loss column, but in virtually all the statistics as well. The Aztecs' 2005 team has scored 10 more goals through 15 games than last year and has 16 more assists. This year's squad is also twice as likely to score when they take a shot (19 goals/169 shots) compared to last year (9 goals/170 shots). Attendance at the SDSU Sports Deck in 2005 is also up 41.7 percent.
*Click on the PDF file for a comparison of this year and last season.
Strength Of Schedule
*The coaching staff certainly didn't make things easy for a young squad with a schedule that features six opponents that advanced to the 2004 NCAA soccer tournament. Here is a look at how far those teams advanced:
*NCAA quarterfinals: Portland (20-4), Washington (17-5-1)
*NCAA third round: Nebraska (14-9)
*NCAA second round: San Diego (12-8)
*NCAA first round: UNLV (12-5-2), Utah (13-6-3)
*Combined 2004 record of the six teams: 88-37-6 (.694)
*Combined 2004 record of SDSU's 2005 opponents: 195-160-46 (.544)
Depth Is The Key To Winning
*SDSU has started 21 different players so far this season and only three - seniors Alexis Solovij and Amanda Swiader, and freshman Millie Allen - have started all 15 games for the Aztecs.
*The Aztecs have had 10 different lineups and only three lineups have started more than one game together.
*SDSU has had 13 players register at least one point.
In Swiader We Trust
*Despite starting as a defender in all 15 games this season, senior Amanda Swiader is third on the team with points off two goals and two assists. With a helper on an Erika Sutton game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Hawai'i on Oct. 1, Swiader became the active SDSU career scoring leader with 19 points, passing classmate Lisette Martinez (18 points).
*Swiader is also the SDSU active leader in games (71) and starts (67).
*In her career, the Aztecs are 10-2-1 (.808) when Swiader scores at least one point and 4-0 this season.
*Through 15 games, Swiader has already set single-season highs of two goals and six points.
*Click on the PDF file for a list of the SDSU active scoring leaders.
Last Week With The Aztecs
SDSU split its opening Mountain West Conference contests on the road last weekend. The Aztecs defeated Air Force, 3-1, on Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo., two days after falling victim to a late Wyoming goal and losing 1-0.
San Diego State 3, Air Force 1
*COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Freshman Jen Mello scored two goals and classmate Erika Sutton added a goal and an assist to lead the San Diego State women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over Air Force on Sunday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Aztecs' three goals are their most since a 3-2 victory over Cal State Northridge on Sept. 24 of last season.
Air Force got on the scoreboard first at the 13:51 mark when Brittany Perkowski took a pass from Rhett Chase and lofted the ball over SDSU goalkeeper Cat Burson's head from just outside the penalty area.
The Aztecs responded in the 31st minute after Falcon goalkeeper Erin Wallace was unable to secure Sutton's initial shot from the right side of the field. Mello then knocked the ball into the net from 10 yards out.
Sutton scored what proved to be the game-winner at 37:30 off an assist from freshman Becky Ryan when she slipped the ball past Wallace into the left-corner of the net from 15 yards away.
SDSU went into halftime with a 2-1 lead, a 9-5 advantage in shots and 2-1 edge in corner kicks.
Mello scored the game's final goal minutes into the second half (49:48) when she drilled a shot over Wallace's head from 25 yards. Sophomore Ashley Tenn was credited with the assist on the play.
Mello and Sutton lead the team in scoring with 15 (seven goals, one assist) and 14 (four goals, six assists) points, respectively.
The Aztecs outshot Air Force, 12-10, for the match and each team finished with two corner kicks.
Sutton had a game-high five shots, including three on goal, to lead the SDSU offense while Mello chipped in with four attempts.
Sophomore goalkeeper Cat Burson continued her strong play in net for SDSU, finishing the game with five saves. In five matches this season, Burson is 3-2 with a 0.58 goals against average.
Wyoming 1, San Diego State 0
*LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Christina Best scored on a deflection off a San Diego State defender in the 83rd minute to lead the Wyoming women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the Aztecs in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams Friday afternoon in Laramie, Wyo.
For the match, Wyoming outshot the Aztecs, 11-9, in a physical game that had a combined 15 fouls (11 by the Cowgirls) and two yellow cards in the first half alone. Wyoming also had two more corner kicks (5-3) than SDSU, which started five freshmen.
However, the Aztecs held the Cowgirls' Mercy Adetoye, the MWC's leader in goals (0.67) and shots per game (4.2), to only one shot.
Sophomore Jessica Girdner, and freshmen Mariko Strickland and Erika Sutton had two shots apiece for SDSU to pace the offense, while sophomore goalkeeper Cat Burson (2-2) played all 90 minutes in net and made five saves.
Of the Aztecs six losses this season, five have come in the last eight minutes of the game.
A Glance At The Lobos
New Mexico is 4-4-3 this season after a 1-1 start on the road to begin MWC play.
The Lobos fell to Utah, 3-2, on Saturday in Salt Lake City, Utah. New Mexico battled back from a two-goal deficit to tie the score at 2-2, but couldn't get past the Utes. The Lobos' two goals, which came just 12 seconds apart, came from Bridgette Sanchez and Kristine Sweat. Kristin Winters finished with one save.
On Thursday, New Mexico upset then No. 13 Brigham Young, 1-0, in Provo, Utah, winning 1-0 on a Sweat goal in the 55th minute. The victory was the Lobos' first win over the Cougars since 2001. For her efforts, Sweat was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Week.
Winters made six saves for her fifth shutout of the year.
Sweat leads the team in scoring with 10 points on five goals. Sanchez has two goals and two assists (six points) and Kaela Kelly has chipped in with five points on one goal and three assists.
Winters has played 1,045-plus minutes in net for New Mexico and is 4-4-3 with five shutouts and a 0.77 goals against average.
SDSU Vs. New Mexico
*The Aztecs are 6-3-2 (.636) all-time against the Lobos, including two victories last season.
*Last year in the opening round of the MWC tournament on Nov. 3, 2004 in Provo, Utah, current sophomores Tiphanie Elliott and Lisa Nielsen each tallied goals in SDSU's 2-0 win. The relentless Aztec defense limited New Mexico to just three shots, the fewest by a SDSU opponent all season.
At the SDSU Sports Deck on Oct. 17, 2004, then sophomore Jennifer Klunder tallied the game-winning goal at the 93:08 mark of the first overtime to lead the Aztecs to a 1-0 triumph. It was Klunder's second game-winning goal in as many games.
*The Aztecs have outscored the Lobos, 16-9 (1.5-0.8), in the series, including three consecutive shutouts. In fact, five of their six wins in the series have been shutouts.
*However, SDSU is just 1-2-2 against New Mexico in Albuquerque, but 3-2-2 overall in games played at the state's largest city.
*Click on the PDF release for statistics of current Aztecs versus New Mexico.
A Glance At The Horned Frogs
TCU is 5-6 and 0-2 in its first year in the Mountain West Conference.
The Horned Frogs fell to then No. 13 Brigham Young, 4-0, on Saturday in Provo, Utah. K.D. Waters had a team-high three shots for TCU, which was outshot, 23-7, by the Cougars. Kate Buchanan (66:43, eight saves, three goals allowed) and Ashley Pieret (23:17, one goal allowed) split time in net for the Horned Frogs.
On Thursday, TCU was shutout by Utah, 1-0, on a goal in the 76th minute. Waters once again had the most chances for the Horned Frogs, finishing with a team-high three shot attempts. Buchanan played all 90 minutes in net and made six saves.
Bara Gunnarsdottir is the team's top scorer with nine points on four goals and one assist, while Moran Lavi (three goals, two assists) and Caroline Starns (two goals, four assists) have eight points apiece.
SDSU Vs. TCU
*SDSU is 2-0 all-time against the Horned Frogs, but have not played the ex-Western Athletic Conference foe in Fort Worth, Texas. The two teams are meeting for the first time since Nov. 4, 1998, when the Aztecs took at 6-0 victory at Provo, Utah, in the first round of the WAC tournament.
*The Aztecs have outscored the Horned Frogs, 8-0 (4.0-0.0), in the two meetings.
*SDSU has never played in the state of Texas, but is 2-3 all-time when playing in the central time zone.
*The Aztecs are 20-14-4 (.579) against MWC opponents in the regular season and 25-19-5 (.561) overall.