Women's Soccer Hosts odwalla Nike Classic at Negoesco

Sept. 2, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEK FOR THE DONS: USF hosts its first tournament since the 2006 season, welcoming San Jose State, Long Island, and Fairfield to the Hilltop for the USF odwalla Nike Classic September 4 and 6. San Jose will meet Fairfield at 5:00 PM on Friday, and USF will take on Long Island in the night cap at 7:30 PM. On Sunday, the Dons will host Fairfield in game one at 11:00 AM and San Jose State and Long Island will close out the event at 1:30 PM.

NEXT UP FOR USF: The Dons head south for their first road trip of the season next weekend. USF will meet UC Riverside at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 11, and Cal State Fullerton at 1:00 PM on Sunday, September 13.

EARLY SEASON SCORERS: In dominating their first two games, the Dons scorers have come out in force. Senior midfielder Kristina Hall owns the team lead with two goals, both scored against Academy of Art. Also in the AAU game, junior midfielder Lauren Maris and freshman forward Megan Connor found the back of the net. In the Dons first match of 2009, freshman forward Laura Gordon and sophomore forward Megan Bucci each scored their first career goals.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM THEIR FRIENDS: Three Dons have helped out their teammates in the early going. Sophomore forward Molly Hall, junior midfielder Lauren Maris, and sophomore forward Megan Bucci each have an assist this season.

DONS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: USF is set to meet no less than three teams with early season rankings. The Dons host No. 22 Santa Clara at home on Friday, October 16 at 5:00 PM. Two days later, they host No. 12 USD at 11:00 AM as a part of a women's and men's double header at Negoesco. Finaly, USF travels to No. 3 Portland on Sunday, October 25 for a noon start.

WEEK TWO
OPPONENT CAPSULES

LONG ISLAND BLACKBIRDS
Head Coach: Tracey Bartholomew, 10th Year (Rochester, `94)
Career Record (Years) / School Record (Years):
86-79-8 (9) / 86-79-8 (9)
2009 Record: 2-0-0, 0-0-0 Northeast
2008 Overall / Conference (Place): 16-4-1 / 9-0-0 (1st)
NCAA / Final Ranking: NA
Returning letter-winners / Starters: 20 / 7
Predicted 2009 Conf. Finish: 2nd
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: NA
Series Streak: NA
Long Island Website: www.liuathletics.com

A LOOK AT LONG ISLAND: Long Island University women's soccer team will be looking to build upon last season's record-breaking campaign. The Blackbirds won nine straight en route to a program-record 16 wins, while posting a perfect 9-0-0 conference mark before a heart-breaking loss in the Northeast Conference championship game. An experienced roster of upperclassmen returns looking to build upon the program's foundation of success. Head coach Tracey Bartholomew will add a group of capable newcomers into the mix, rounding out one of the deepest and most-talented rosters during her tenure.

FAIRFIELD STAGS
Head Coach: Jim O'Brien, 5th Year (Southern Conn. State, `92)
Career Record (Years) / School Record (Years):
150-82-21 (13) / 45-26-13 (4)
2009 Record: 0-2-0, 0-0-0 MAAC
2008 Overall / Conference (Place): 15-5-3 / 7-2-0 (2nd)
NCAA / Final Ranking: First Round / NA
Returning letter-winners / Starters: 16 / 7
Predicted 2009 Conf. Finish: 1st
Series Record: 0-1-0
Last Meeting: 1998
Series Streak: Lost 1
Fairfield Website: www.fairfieldstags.com

A LOOK AT FAIRFIELD: The 2009 Fairfield University women's soccer team has been chosen as the team to beat by the head coaches of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Stags are coming off of a 15-win, NCAA Tournament appearance season, and return 16 letter winners, seven starters, from that squad. While the Stags graduated just three players, the trio was a major part of the effort, having combined to start 68 games on the year. The returning players, however, pack a powerful offensive punch, with 68 percent of the offense, and seven starters, from last year's NCAA Tournament team. Also returning is the Stags entire keeper corps from a year ago.