ARCATA - Humboldt State women's soccer will wrap up a season of program growth this weekend.
After only securing a single victory following wins in the first two matches, the Lumberjacks have still shown growth as a program over the year.
The schedule maker, though, did not do the Jacks any favors for their final week opponents.
HSU will have two nationally-ranked foes to face this weekend. On Friday, HSU travels to play #7 Cal State Stanislaus, before hosting 'Senior Day' on Sunday in a rematch with 20th-ranked Sonoma State.
Jacks encouraging yet tough last weekend
In a building program, a team takes strides and positives where they can and need to learn from how they play in other circumstances.
Last Friday, HSU proved it could hold its own against top competition once again by giving 20th-rated Somona State all it could handle.
Head coach Paul Karver's Lumberjacks put the lone goal of the first half in the net from Samantha Morris and 17 minutes into the latter half Maddi Null tied the contest, 2-2, but the Seawolves' Curtin sisters spelled doom in the end. Each sister, Cara and Lauren, netted a goal nine minutes apart for their team's 4-2 final win.
The Morris and Null goals combined for the first HSU match with at least two scores since September 13 against Cal State Monterey Bay, the third contest of the year. The two goals surpasses the Jacks total for the entire month of October thus far with only a single tally a week ago at CSU San Bernardino.
From Friday's encouragement, Sunday proved to be a match to continue learning for the Jacks.
A slow first half and two opposing goals within a five-minute first half span spelled trouble for Humboldt State women's soccer Sunday afternoon.
Cal State East Bay completed its second win of the fall over HSU. The Pioneers held the Lumberjacks without a first half shot and scored goals at 33:00 and 37:57 for the 2-0 victory.
After not attempting a shot in the first 45 minutes, the Jacks put six on the board and two of them on goal in the second half.
Maddi Payne tried to pull the Jacks within a goal in the first 15 minutes of the latter half but the Pioneers' goalie Donna Williams turned away the boot.
Samantha Morris had the other kick on goal with 11 seconds left in the match.
Nicholas and LaRue finish HSU careers
The HSU program will lose two of its veteran players - Sydney Nicholas and Chelsea LaRue - after this weekend.
Nicholas has been a defensive stalwart for the Jacks all season. The defender mans the central back spot in front of the HSU goalies. Offensively, she has produced a goal against Cal State Stanislaus and one assist on the season.
Due to injuries, LaRue has spent her final season in a supportive role. Over 46 previous career matches, the Palos Verdes, Calif. product had a goal and an assist.
Lucas moves up in saves
In two matches last weekend, goalie Kelly Lukas recorded a combined 12 saves. The saves was enough to move up to second in the CCAA with 85 on the year.
Morris nets first goal
Against one of the two best teams of the season, freshman Samantha Morris put her first collegiate goal into the net to begin the scoring of last Friday's match. Her first goal came on only her third shot and second shot on goal. She added her third shot on goal of the season last Sunday at Cal State East Bay.
Coach Karver's Comments on this weekend:
"This week presents the greatest quality in terms of the two teams we will play all year with Stanislaus and Sonoma."
"We played both teams close in the first meetings and this presents another chance to measure ourselves against two of the top programs in the country."
"Our attacking play is starting to produce quality scoring chances and goals, we will look to put both teams under pressure as we continue to grow this program."
Weekend's CCAA final matches
at #6 Cal State Stanislaus (Fri. at 7:00 p.m.):
Season Record: 14-0-2/12-0-2 CCAA North
Series History: CSUS leads 12-5-0
Last meeting: CSUS won 2-1 on Sept. 22 in Arcata ... the Warriors scored two times in a 10-minute period starting at the 49th-minute mark ... HSU's Sydney Nicholas put the ball in the goal at 70:49 from Elle Reid, but could not tie the match in the final 20 minutes despite getting good pressure on CSUS
Last HSU win: 1-0 win in the first meeting of the 2009 season in Arcata
*Coached by Gabriel Bolton ... led the Warriors to the 2011 CCAA title and the program's winningest coach
*Warriors are the last undefeated CCAA team
*Won their last five matches including two wins last weekend
-defeated Cal State East Bay, 2-1, last Friday, before shutting out 20th-ranked Sonoma State, 1-0, on Sunday
*Shut out half of their 16 opponents ... allowing only nine goals in 16 matches
*Karenee Demery leads the CCAA in four offensive categories - goals (19), points (46), shots (86) and assists (8)
*Katelyn Nebesnick rates 5th in the CCAA in three lists of points (18), shots (46) and assists (6)
*Sabrina Williamson is tied for 1st in assists with 8
*Goalie Chelsea Lewandowski has the CCAA's best goals against average (0.54), while tied for third in goals allowed (9) and fifth in save percentage (.804)
vs. #18 Sonoma State (Sun. at 11:30 a.m.):
Season Record: 10-3-3/8-3-3 CCAA North
Series History: SSU leads 17-6-4
Last meeting: SSU 4-2 win on last Friday, Oct. 25 at Rohnert Park
Last HSU win: 3-1 at Rohnert Park in final game of 2009
*Coached by 3rd-year Emiria Salzmann Dunn ... holds a career 34-13-8 mark directing SSU
*Seawolves split their two matches last weekend
-After defeating HSU, 4-2, were shut out, 1-0, at Cal State Stanislaus
*Outshot opponents on the year 279-130
*Cara Curtin is second in the CCAA with 9 goals, 2nd in shots (64 and four in points (20)
*Lauren Curtin ranks 3rd in the CCAA with 52 shots and tied for third in points (19)
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