2001 Women's Soccer Opener Sunday

Sept. 2, 2001

Pamela Kalinoski begins her head coaching career Sunday when USF takes on Fresno State in a 4:00 match at Negoesco Stadium. San Francisco defeated the Bulldogs 1-0 last season at the Fresno State Tournament.

All-WCC Trio Returns For USF: Last season, three USF players were selected to the 2000 All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention squad and all three return for first year head coach Pamela Kalinoski. Senior forward Heidi Prestegard returns after scoring four goals last season to give her 11 in her career on the Hilltop. Junior forward Meghan Daly also earned all-league recognition after leading USF in scoring last season with seven goals and three assists. Rounding out the trio is sophomore goalkeeper Jennifer Orantes, who posted a 1.93 GAA and turned in 2.5 shutouts while playing 1,070 minutes between the pipes for USF. Orantes is the only one who will not be in uniform for San Francisco in the opener as she is competing for the Mexican National Team in China.

Scouting Fresno State: USF hosts the Bulldogs of Fresno State in the first regular season match for both teams on Sunday at Negoesco Stadium. The Bulldogs finished 11-9 last season and are paced up front this season by senior forward Reyna Green and senior midfielder Aimee Thompson. The showdown between Fresno State and USF also marks the head coaching debut of new Bulldogs' boss Stacy Welp after spending the past two seasons as the top assistant at Fresno State. San Francisco defeated FSU 1-0 last season at the Fresno State Tournament on a gam-winner by junior forward Kirsteen Buchan.

Championship Experience Required: Few coaching staffs can boast the experience found on the sidelines for USF women's soccer. Head coach Pamela Kalinoski won All-America honors as a senior at North Carolina and won four NCAA titles as a player, while first year goalkeeper coach Stephen Negoesco earned All-American honors as a player at USF and played on one NCAA title team with the Dons before building a dynasty at his alma mater that would end 39 years later with four NCAA men's soccer titles. Allison Gibson earned a pair of All-American honors while at Sonoma State.

Head Coach Pamela Kalinoski: Pamela Kalinoski enters her first season as the head coach for the University of San Francisco women's soccer program after spending the last two seasons as the top assistant. Kalinoski brings a wealth of coaching and playing experience to her new post and first Division I head coaching assignment. Kalinoski enjoyed a tremendous playing career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, playing for one of the true dynasties in collegiate sports. Kalinoski competed on a Tar Heel's team that won four consecutive NCAA women's soccer titles without losing a single match, posting an incredible 89-0-5 record. After her four years at Chapel Hill, Kalinoski left as the school's all-time assists leader (51) and served as team captain during her senior season and also earned Offensive MVP honors in the 1991 NCAA Championships.