Aug. 24, 2011
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Women's Soccer Weekly Notes | Become a fan of SDSU Women's Soccer on Facebook
Game Week Reset
Minnesota (1-1) at San Diego State (1-1)
Friday, Aug. 26 | 4 p.m. PT | SDSU Sports Deck
No. 4 Portland (1-0) at San Diego State (1-1)
Sunday, Aug. 28 | Noon PT | SDSU Sports Deck
Aztec Story Lines
- San Diego State opens a season-long six-game homestand on Friday when it plays host to Minnesota at SDSU Sports Deck at 4 p.m. PT. Following its clash with the Golden Gophers, the Aztecs will then welcome fourth-ranked Portland to Montezuma Mesa for a noon showdown slated for Sunday. Admission is free to both events.
- Sunday's match with Portland is at noon PT. The non-conference tilt was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. PT. The date is a part of a doubleheader with the men's program, which opens its season against Canisius at 3 p.m. PT.
- SDSU, the preseason Mountain West favorites, are coming off an opening week which saw it split its first two games. The Aztecs defeated Arizona, 1-0, in the season opener before falling in heartbreaking fashion at California in overtime, 2-1.
- Redshirt senior Cat Walker scored both of San Diego State's goals last week and was named Mountain West co-offensive player of the week. Walker, who was playing in her first game in 642 days after redshirting in 2010, connected on a penalty kick against Arizona, which eventually gave SDSU the win. Then at California, the senior tied the game in the 86th minute, which pushed the game into overtime. Walker now has 26 career goals, the fourth most in SDSU history.
- Redshirt junior Tiffany Hurst, like Walker, was playing in her first game in 642 days as well when she earned the starting nod against Arizona. Hurst utilized her redshirt season in 2010 and has started the last two games. In the outing at California, Hurst assisted on Walker's goal, marking her first point since Oct. 8, 2009.
- The Aztecs are 6-1 in their last seven games at SDSU Sports Deck.
- To say Cat Walker is clutch would be an understatement. Her last six goals scored have either won the game for San Diego State or sent the game into overtime. Of the six, four have been game-winners and two, including Sunday at California, forced extra time. In those six games, SDSU has posted a 5-1 record.
- With the departure of four-year starter and SDSU all-time saves and shutouts leader Aubree Southwick, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Rachel Boaz has stepped in and done a nice job. The Murrieta, Calif., native has started both games and owns a goals-against average of 0.97. In her first career game vs. Arizona, Boaz shutout the Wildcats.
- San Diego State's six-game homestand is the program's longest since 1995 when that ballclub played host to seven straight on campus. That season, the Aztecs went 5-1-1 on the homestand en route to a 13-5-3 record and a Western Athletic Conference championship.
- The Aztecs enter Friday's match with Minnesota having won the only meeting between the schools. Back in 1994, the Golden Gophers visited San Diego State and were defeated, 2-1.
- San Diego State is seeking its first win over Portland in school history. The Aztecs are winless in eight tries against the Pilots. Portland is making its first visit to SDSU since earning a 3-1 victory in 1994. The Aztecs are 0-2 all-time vs. the Pilots in games played in San Diego.
- SDSU and Portland are meeting for the first time since the 2008 campaign when the Aztecs dropped a 3-0 decision. In fact, the Pilots have shut out SDSU five times, including four straight. In the last four games, Portland has outscored San Diego State by a score of 15-0.
Opposition Notebook
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers are 1-1 on the season, losing 1-0 at Maryland, the nation's fifth-ranked squad, and defeating South Dakota State, 5-0... Minnesota, which finished 2010 ranked No. 21 in the final NSCAA poll after advancing to the Sweet 16, is currently the first team out of the NSCAA Top-25 Poll with 50 votes... As a result of her hat trick vs. South Dakota State, freshman Taylor Uhl leads the Golden Gophers with three goals, while also leading the team in points (7)... Senior Josie Solie and junior Nicole Baier each have a goal apiece in the early going, and senior Shari Eckstrom has a team-best two assists... Junior Cat Parkhill has received the starting nod in goal and has a GAA of 0.59... After its trip to San Diego State, Minnesota will head north to play UC Santa Barbara on Sunday.
Portland The Pilots enter the week with a No. 4 national ranking next to their name... Portland defeated then-No. 4 Florida State, 2-1, in its season opener and will face Washington State on Friday before traveling to SDSU... Senior Danielle Foxhoven tied the game with the Seminoles in the 37th minute and then cashed in on a penalty-kick opportunity just over eight minutes later, and both goals held up to propel the Pilots to the win... Senior Hailee DeYoung got the nod in goal for Portland and played the entire 90 minutes while making three saves.