ARCATA, Calif. – The Humboldt State women's soccer team will step away from the grind of California Collegiate Athletic Association play as it prepares for a non-conference match with UC Santa Cruz Saturday at College Creek Field. The match is scheduled to start at 11 a.m.

"The team is ready and they want to compete," said Head Coach Paul Karver. "Two weeks ago, I said I thought we were going to get hot and we've only improved since then. We've had some of the top programs in the conference on the ropes, but things haven't really fallen our way. These girls are really motivated to get to seven wins. We have the opportunity to tie last year's record, and that's what they want. This group comes to work every single day, and they know the success they can put forward is there."

Following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in double overtime to Chico State this past Sunday, the Lumberjacks (4-9-1) look to bounce back in a big way. Senior forward Alex Jenkins has been having a career year and her seven goals and one assist make her the CCAA's second highest scorer. Sophomore goalkeeper Brooke Townsend looks to make her sixth start of the season and has recorded 25 saves on 84 shots faced.

UC Santa Cruz (3-11-0) enters the weekend on a five-game losing streak following a 2-0 road loss to Cal Lutheran. Senior midfielder Cayce Shaw leads the Banana Slug offense with six of their 14 goals.

HSU won the only previous meeting between these two programs back in 1995.