ARCATA — On Friday, the Humboldt State women's soccer team opens its 2010 season in Seattle, Wash., against perennial national powerhouse and No. 17-ranked Seattle Pacific University in a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. Then on Monday the side will face Western Washington in Bellingham at 12 p.m.. The matches will be the only non-conference tilts for the Jacks this season.
Live Stats
Fans can follow the women's action at Seattle Pacific through live stats by logging on to
http://www.sidearmstats.com/spu/wsoc/. There will be no live stats at Western Washington.
Live statistics for all HSU women's soccer home games can be accessed at
http://livestats.internetconsult.com/humboldt/wsoc while the event is in progress.
Head-to-Head
The Jacks have defeated the Falcons just once in their history and have a 1-10-1 record all-time against Seattle Pacific. SPU has not lost to the Lumberjacks in the last nine meetings dating back to early in the 2002 season. As members of the GNAC, HSU defeated the Falcons 3-0 in Arcata. The last meeting between the schools was last season. SPU, No. 1 ranked at the time, beat the Lumberjacks 3-0 in Seattle. … With a 2-0 win last season against Western Washington in Bellingham, the Jacks improved their overall record against the Wolves to 8-9-1.
Johnson's Comments
“Seattle Pacific is a nationally-ranked team with national championship experience that have a lot returners from last year. They are physical, athletics and quick. It is going to be tough match-up for us. This will give us a chance to see where our strengths and weaknesses are very quickly which we need to know as we move on through the season … Last year we caught Western (Washington) at a good time. Our fitness was key to that victory. They came on in the second half of the season and finished second in the GNAC. I don't expect either game to be easy and we will learn a lot about ourselves on this trip.”
Lumberjack Notes
The Jacks are coming off an 8-9-3 overall and 5-8-3 conference record (5th place in the CCAA North) in 2009 … HSU started the season 7-2-0 but injuries in second half of the year derailed any postseason hopes … The Jacks had 10 one-goal decision and went 5-5-0 in those contests … the side returns the players who scored 18 of last season's 23 goals … The Jacks' offense will likely be led by senior strikers Arielle Kern (7G, 2A, 14 Pts) and Kim Carroll (4G, 3A, 11 Pts), but also look out for Carly Kolpin, a sophomore midfielder, who tallied eight points on three goals and two assists … On defense, the Jacks back line feature three junior. They are led by Megan Kendall, named to the 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/NCAA Division II All-West Region Team and a second-team All-California Collegaite Atheltic Association performer, Sarah Nakamoto and Karen Pontoni … In net, Kelly Sandberg, who allowed only 26 goals in 198 shots-on-goal last season, is the Jacks' top keeper … The Jacks are 10-5-0 in season openers and 4-3-0 when they start the season on the road … In his second season at the helm of the Lumberjacks progam, Christian Johnson has an 8-9-3 record at HSU.
Record Watch
Carroll slots into sixth place on the career goals list with 14 goals. She is one goal from fifth place (Lesa Lewis, 2003-04) and two goals from joining Gabby Ahmadla (1999-02) in fourth place with 16 goals … Sandberg's career GAA, 1.07, cements her in 3rd place on the career list, and her six shutouts in 2008 and 2009 were good for a 5th place tie on the school's single-season list. Her 13 career shutouts rank third all-time for the program … Kern's seven goals last season tie her for 11th on the single-season list.
Seattle Pacific Notes
The Falcons return eight starters from a team that finished ranked No. 19 and was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the first round by Chico State … SPU finished the year 16-3-2 overall, 9-2-1 in the GNAC, which was good for first place in the conference … among top players returning are All-America defender Taylor Sawyer, Megan Lindsay (6 g, 4 a, 16 pts) and three All-GNAC performers … the Falcons lose GNAC Player of the Year Jocelyn Charette (15 g, 7 a, 37 pts) and all-region first-team honoree Janea Godoy … Seattle Pacific is led by Chuck Sekyra who in six years has compiled a 134-14-12 record.
Western Washington Notes
The Vikings return five starters from a team that finished in second place in the GNAC with an 8-1-3 record and went 11-4-4 overall … They return leading scorer Molly Shannon (7 g, 3 a, 17 pts) and first-team All-GNAC performer Alicia Patten … Prior to facing the Jacks the Vikings will play non-conference matches at Chico State (9/2) and San Francisco State (9/4) … Western Washington is led by Travis Connell who has an overall record of 82-46-12 in seven seasons.
