Oct. 18, 2005
SAN DIEGO -
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This Week's Action
*The Aztecs (10-6-1, 2-1-1 MWC) will play host to Utah and No. 12 BYU in their only Mountain West Conference home matches this weekend. On Thursday, SDSU will take on the Utes at 3:30 p.m. at the SDSU Sports Deck. On Saturday, the Aztecs will host the Cougars at 1 p.m.
*SDSU is 4-2 (.667) at home this season and 96-42-10 (.682) all-time on The Mesa.
*The Aztecs are 21-14-5 (.588) against MWC opponents in the regular season and 26-19-6 (.569) overall.
Best Start Since 1999
*The Aztecs are off to one of their best starts in school history. The 10 wins by Oct. 16 are the program's most since they had 10 in 1999, the last time they made the NCAA tournament.
*With a victory over TCU on Sunday, SDSU reached 10 wins in a season for the first time since 2002, when they went on to finish 13-7 (3-3 MWC).
So Close...
*Ten wins by Oct. 16 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.
*64.7 percent (11-of-17) of SDSU's games this season have been decided by one goal or less, 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 5.6 starts per game, a .500 record is a very good mark.
Better Late Then Never
*Through the first 17 games, the 2005 Aztecs have been a second half team. SDSU has scored 18 of its 23 goals (78.3 percent) in the second session and has 41 more shots (123-82) than it has in the first half.
*The Aztecs have outscored their opponents, 18-7, in the second half and have outshot the opposition, 123-100.
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 17 games:
*The UAT average 8.2 starts per game (5.6 spg by freshmen)
*The UAT have played 100 percent (1,570+-of-1,570+) of the time in goal (57.7 percent (906+-of-1,570+) by freshmen)
*The UAT have scored 82.6 percent (19-of-23) of the goals (65.2 percent (15-of-23) by freshmen)
*The UAT have had 87.5 percent (21-of-24) of the assists (66.7 percent (16-of-24) by freshmen)
*The UAT have had 84.3 percent (59-of-70) of the points (65.7 percent (46-of-70) by freshmen)
*The UAT have taken 89.2 percent (190-of-213) of the shots (67.6 percent (144-of-213) by freshmen)
*The UAT have taken 88.5 percent (85-of-96) of the shots on goal (61.4 percent (59-of-96) by freshmen)
*The UAT have scored 90 percent (9-of-10) of the game-winning goals (80 percent (8-of-10) by freshmen)
The One-Two Punch
*Sophomore Cat Burson and freshman Christi Yount have split time in net this season for the Aztecs and both players have put up remarkable numbers. The two have combined for seven shutouts, a 0.86 goals against average and a 82.9 save percentage.
*Burson, a transfer from UC Santa Barbara, has got the starting nod in net seven of the last eight games for the Aztecs. In 664:23, Burson is 4-2-1 with a 0.54 GAA and three shutouts. She has faced 89 shots and has a remarkable 90.5 save percentage.
*Burson would be 14th in the nation in GAA if she had enough minutes to qualify and seventh in save percentage.
*Burson could set the SDSU single-season records for lowest GAA, set by Katherine Judkins in 1998 (0.61) and highest save percentage, set last year by Sophia Perez (86.1 percent). Burson needs to play just 86 more minutes to become eligible for both records.
*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 release for a comparison of Cat Burson this season at SDSU and last year at UC Santa Barbara.
*Yount is also 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 Judkins in 1996. Along with the lowest single-season GAA, Judkins is among the school leaders in career shutouts (first, 23.5), career saves (second, 192), career GAA (second, 0.97) and shutouts in a season (second, 10.5 in 1998).
*Katie Sullivan (1997) was the last SDSU goalie to see playing time as a freshman goalkeeper.
*Click on the PDF release for comparison of Burson and past Aztec freshmen goalkeepers.
The Mello And Sutton Connection
*Not only do the freshmen tandem of Jen Mello and Erika Sutton lead the team in scoring, but the duo is responsible for 44.3 percent of the team's points (31/70 points) thus far. Four of Mello's team-leading seven goals have been off assists from Sutton, while Sutton leads the MWC with eight assists and leads the Aztecs with 16 points in 2005.
*Mello's seven goals are the most by an Aztec since Kim Castellanos scored 10 times in 2002 and Sutton's eight assists are the most since Fay deLeon had nine helpers in 2000.
*The Aztecs are 8-1 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 release for a look at how other freshmen duos in Aztec history compare with Mello and Sutton.
What A Difference A Year Makes
*After 17 games in 2005, SDSU's 10-6-1 (.618) record is .118 percentage points better than last year's record of 6-6-5 (.500) 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 11 more goals through 17 games than last year and has 15 more assists. This year's squad is also almost twice as likely to score when they take a shot (23 goals/213 shots) compared to last year (12 goals/202 shots). Attendance at the SDSU Sports Deck in 2005 is also up 57.9 percent.
*Click on the PDF release for a comparison of this year's team and last year's squad which reached the MWC championship game.
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)
*Combined 2005 record of SDSU's 2005 opponents: 150-120-25 (.551)
Depth Is The Key To Winning
*SDSU has started 21 different players so far this season and only two - senior Alexis Solovij and freshman Millie Allen - have started all 17 games for the Aztecs.
*The Aztecs have had 12 different lineups and only three lineups have started more than one game together.
*SDSU has had 15 players register at least one point.
In Swiader We Trust
*Despite starting as a defender in all 16 games she has played this season, senior Amanda Swiader is fourth 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 tied with fellow captain Alexis Solovij as the SDSU active leader in games (72) and starts (68).
*In her career, the Aztecs are 10-2-1 (.808) when Swiader scores at least one point and 4-0 this season.
*Through 16 games, Swiader has already set single-season highs of two goals and six points.
*Click on the PDF release for a comparison of the active Aztec scoring leaders.
Last Week With The Aztecs
*SDSU went 1-0-1 in MWC play on the road last weekend. The Aztecs defeated TCU, 3-0, on Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas., two days after playing to a double-overtime, 1-1 tie against New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M.
San Diego State 3, TCU 0
*FORT WORTH, Texas -- Freshman Mariko Strickland had a goal and an assist, and sophomores Casey Davidson and Ashley Young each recorded their first career goal, to lead the San Diego State women's soccer team to a 3-0 victory over TCU Sunday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas. Sophomore goalkeeper Cat Burson made a career-high 10 saves for the Aztecs, who reached 10 wins in a season for the first time since 2002.
Playing in its fourth consecutive road match to open league play, SDSU battled throughout the physical game, which featured 37 fouls between the two teams. The match remained scoreless through the first half, with the Aztecs holding a 9-8 edge in shots and the Horned Frogs owning a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.
SDSU wasted no time in the second session, capitalizing on its first scoring chance off a corner kick just 1:44 into the second half. Strickland touched it to freshman Erika Sutton who sent the ball into the box on a designed play. Young was able to get a foot on the ball to score the eventual game-winner and her first career goal.
Strickland gave the Aztecs a two-goal lead at 56:50 off assists from Sutton and freshman Leann Sgobba. It was Sgobba's first career assist at SDSU.
The Aztecs' final goal of the match came in the 83rd minute (82:21) when Davidson beat TCU goalkeeper Katy Buchanan on a breakaway chance for her first career tally.
Freshman Becky Ryan had a career-high five shots for SDSU, while Davidson, freshman Jen Mello, Strickland and Sutton had three shots apiece.
Burson played all 90 minutes for the Aztecs for her third shutout in 2005. In seven starts this season, Burson is 4-2-1 with a 0.54 goals against average.
SDSU's 23 shots in the game was its most since it had 25 attempts on Oct. 2, 2003 in a match at Wyoming.
The Aztecs are now 3-0 all-time against TCU and have outscored the Horned Frogs, 11-0, in the series.
San Diego State 1, New Mexico 1 (2OT)
*ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The San Diego State women's soccer team and New Mexico played to a double-overtime, 1-1 tie, Friday afternoon in Albuquerque, N.M. The Aztecs dominated play throughout the match, outshooting the Lobos, 21-13, and owning a 10-1 advantage on corner kicks.
SDSU's 10 corner kicks were the most since they had 13 on Nov. 2, 2002 versus UNLV.
Kristine Sweat got New Mexico on the scoreboard at the 22:01 mark, scoring on a loose ball from 10 yards out for her sixth goal of the season.
The Lobos would hold their 1-0 lead for the rest of the half and would go into intermission with a 6-2 lead in shots.
As the case has been for the majority of the season, the second session was much better for the Aztecs. SDSU came out firing and had numerous shots hit the post or miss just wide.
Their persistence paid off when freshman Millie Allen took a pass from classmate Erika Sutton at 67:22 and hit a hard shot into the New Mexico box. A Lobo defender then knocked the ball into her net for an own goal, tying the game at one apiece.
Despite outshooting New Mexico, 19-7, over the final 65 minutes, the Aztecs couldn't get the go-ahead goal, as the match would stay tied for the remainder of the second half and two 10-minute overtimes.
Freshman Mariko Strickland led the SDSU offensive attack with a season team-high seven shots, while sophomores Lisa Nielsen and Ashley Tenn and freshmen Millie Allen and Jen Mello chipped in with two shots apiece.
A Glance At The Utes
*Utah is a perfect 4-0-0 in MWC play this season and 11-5 overall. The Utes defeated Air Force, 3-0, on Saturday in Salt Lake City, behind an own goal and tallies from Melissa Wayman and Amanda Feigt. Goalkeepers Ashley Mason (78:25) and Emalee Rogers (11:35) each split time in net to record the shutout.
On Thursday, Utah received goals from Adele Letro and Chelsea Card, along with two assists from Katy Reineke, en route a 2-0 win over Wyoming. Mason played all 90 minutes and made four saves.
Letro leads a balanced Ute scoring attack with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Feigt (five goals, two assists) and Wayman (three goals, three assists) are the other top scorers for Utah. Mason has started every game in net and has posted six shutouts with a 0.76 goals against average for the Utes.
SDSU Vs. Utah
*The Aztecs are 3-7-2 (.333) all-time against the Utes.
*The two teams tied twice last year, including the MWC championship game, where Utah advanced to the NCAA tournament via penalty kicks.
In that game after an early second half goal by the Utes, SDSU answered at the 56:08 mark off a direct kick sent in by Ashley Cooper from the left side of the field. Amanda Swiader headed the ball to then freshman Tiphanie Elliott who drilled a shot from 10 yards away into the right corner of the net for her second goal of the season.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the shootout after Swiader and then senior Shannon McBride each made their penalty attempt and then senior goalkeeper Sophia Perez stopped an Utah shot. After two SDSU misses and two Ute makes, Utah had a 3-2 lead. Senior Alexis Solovij tied the shootout at 3, before the Utes' Erin Pruett scored to give Utah the 4-3 win and 2004 Mountain West Conference Championship.
On Oct. 9, 2004, in Salt Lake City, the two teams battled to a double-overtime, scoreless tie, with each squad registering nine shots for the game and Utah holding a slight edge in corner kicks, 6-5.
*The Utes have outscored the Aztecs, 20-12 (1.7-1.0), in the series.
*SDSU is 1-3 (.250) against Utah in San Diego.
*The Aztecs are 3-1-1 (.700) against common opponents while the Utes are 4-1 (.800) against the same teams.
*Click on the PDF release to see how current Aztecs have done against Utah in the past.
A Glance At Cougars
*No. 16 BYU is off to one of its best starts in school history with a 14-1-1 overall record and 3-1 in the MWC. Its only blemish is a 1-0 loss in Provo to New Mexico on Oct. 6.
The Cougars are coming off three straight wins, including a 2-0 victory over Wyoming on Saturday. Like Utah, BYU has yet to play a road contest in MWC play.
In Saturday's game against the Cowboys, Jaime Beck tallied both goals for the Cougars. Bobbi Tillotson assisted on both goals and Erika Woodbury made three saves for her eighth shutout of the season.
BYU beat Air Force, 6-0, on Saturday, behind four goals from Tillotson. Katie Larkin and Brooke Bowman also scored for the Cougars, who notched their first three goals in 2:02. Larkin and Beck each added two assists, while goalkeepers Woodbury (19:40), Ashley Smith (43:29, one save) and Natalie Evans (26:51) each combined in net to record the save.
Beck leads the MWC in scoring with 27 points on 10 goals and seven assists. Tillotson (six goals, seven assists), Jessica Aquino (six goals) and Larkin (three goals, five assists) each have 11 or more points for BYU, which is averaging 2.5 goals per game this season (40 goals/16 games).
Woodbury is fourth in the nation with a 0.27 goals against average and has saved 90.9 percent of the shots that have come her way.
SDSU Vs. BYU
*The Aztecs and Cougars have met 14 times, with the Aztecs earning a 6-7-1 record (.464).
*The two teams played to a double-overtime, scoreless tie last year in Provo.
*SDSU has been outscored in the series, 31-20 (2.2-1.4).
*The Aztecs are 4-2 (.667) against BYU in San Diego, outscoring the Cougars, 11-6 (1.8-1.0).
*SDSU is 4-0-1 (.944) against common opponents while the Cougars are 4-1 (.800) against the same teams.
*Click on the PDF release for a look at how current Aztecs have fared against BYU.
Do I Know You?
*When the Aztecs travel to the Beehive State for their two MWC matches this week, there will be some familiar faces.
*Freshman Jill Foss, Utah's Chelsea Card and Kiley Jones, and BYU's Amanda Draeger, Brooke Thulin and Erika Woodbury all played for the SoCal Blues club team.
*Freshmen Millie Allen, Carrie Blankenbuhler, and Erika Sutton joined Utah's Whitney Dorsey on the Colorado Rush club team.
*Sophomore Cat Burson and BYU's Claire Thomas both attended Poway High School.
*Freshman Jillian Riker and the Cougars' Kelsea Kakadelas each played for the San Diego Surf.
*Freshman Mariko Strickland and BYU's Charlene Lui both played for the Honolulu Soccer Club Bulls in 2001 and led them to the state championship.