USF Women's Soccer Plays Final Non-Conference Matches Before WCC Play Begins

Oct. 1, 2003

USF Travel to Sacramento State Friday to take on the Hornets; Host San Diego State Sunday Afternoon.

October 3rd @ Sacramento State - 4:00 PM Sacramento, CA/ Hornet Soccer Field

October 5th vs. San Diego State - 1:00 PM San Francisco, CA/ Negoesco Stadium

USF (4-6-0) SHUTS OUT CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE 4-0: On Friday, the Dons hosted the Cal State Northridge Matadors as part of a Men's and Women's doubleheader. Before the fans were able to get comfortable, freshman forward Chelsea Hunt scored on a breakaway in the second minute of the game, beginning what would become a memorable day for USF Soccer. Hunt went on to score two more goals to record the first hat trick for the Dons since 1994 (Kelli Bryant - 10/7/1994), leading USF to a 4-0 shutout. Hunt scored her second goal at the 26:20 mark on a cross pass freshman forward Shuree Hyatt. Hyatt scored the third goal of the game in the 42nd minute on an assist from junior midfielder Annika Schmidt, who had two assists on the day, running her WCC-leading total to eight. It was also Schmidt's second multi-assist game of the season. Hunt capped off the scoring for the Dons with header off the corner kick of freshman forward Kate Nelson at the 72:18 mark. Senior Jen Orantes contributed to the fourth USF shut out of the season and notched her tenth career victory, recording four saves on four shots. The Dons defense held the Matadors to only four shots on the game.

DONS LOSE AT #21 STANFORD: The Dons traveled down to Stanford (5-3-1) last Wednesday to take on the #21 ranked Cardinal, but came away with a 6-1 loss. The Cardinal struck early and often, scoring three goals in the first 20 minutes. Stanford, who had only scored four goals in their first six games, out shot the Dons 18-3 in the game. Junior defender Laura Ott scored the lone goal for the Dons. Ott scored her second goal of the season in the 29th minute on a corner kick from Annika Schmidt. It was Schmidt's sixth assist of the season. This was the Dons fifth game against Pac-10 teams this season, with two of them, Arizona State and Stanford, ranked in the top 25.

Chelsea Hunt RECORDS THE FIRST USF HAT TRICK IN NINE SEASONS: Chelsea Hunt's hat trick on September 26th was the first for USF women's soccer since former Dons stand out Kelli Bryant performed the feat back on October 7th, 1994 in a 7-0 shut out of San Diego. Hunt began the game with two goals on the season and finished the game with five and in a fourth place tie for the league lead.

THE DONS TRAVEL TO SACRAMENTO STATE (2-4-1): The Dons will head up to Sacramento to take on the Hornets on October 3rd. Sacramento State is coming off of a 1-1 tie against Cal State Northridge on Sunday, September 28th, running their record to 2-4-1. Sacramento State scored first as junior midfielder Jenae Lee scored her third goal of the season in the 11th minute of the game. Cal State Northridge would tie the game in the 69th minute and that was how the game would end. USF leads the series 5-1, winning a double overtime thriller last season, 3-2.

DONS TO HOST SAN DIEGO STATE (4-4-0): USF welcomes the Aztecs of San Diego State on Sunday, October 5th. In their last match, the Aztecs held off the University of Nevada, winning 3-1 to improve their record to 4-4. Senior Kim Castellanos played in the game after missing the last four with an ankle injury and did her best to make up for lost time, scoring in her third minute of action. Forward Lisette Martinez and defender Erica Lopez also added goals for the Aztecs. Senior goaltender made one save in route to her fourth win of the season. San Diego State out shot Nevada 18-6. Last season the Dons lost 3-0 to the Aztecs in San Diego. Overall, San Diego State leads the series with USF with a 2-1-1 record.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE: Coming into their match up with the Dons, Sacramento State (2-4-1) has been outscored 13-9, but they have been strong in the second half, scoring seven of their nine after the half. They have been out shot 143-73. Junior midfielder Janae Kee leads the Hornets offense. Kee has scored three goals on the season, including a game-winner in overtime against the University of Nevada. Kee also has one assist and leads the team with seven points. Freshman forward Lisamarie La Vallee has also added a pair of goals on the season. Three time all-Big Sky honorable mention senior Stacy Rowell leads the Hornet defense. Rowell has taken seven shots on the season. In goal, Sacramento State looks to freshman Stephanie Shaw. Shaw has a 2-3-1 record so far this season, with 44 saves and a 1.58 goals against average.

SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE: San Diego State (4-4-0) comes into this match up winners of three straight games in which they have outscored their opponents 7-1. They have been outscored this season 13-11. For the second week in a row, sophomore forward Lisette Martinez has been named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Martinez leads the team in assists with four and shots with 15. She is second on the team in points, with six and has one goal to her credit. Kim Castellanos leads the team with four goals and eight points after missing four games with an ankle injury. Castellanos is a three-time all MWC first team selection. On defense, senior Hannah Garl leads the Aztecs. Garl is coming off a season-ending injury last season. Senior goaltender Stephanie Pearson has played every minute for the Aztecs this season, making eight saves with a 1.58 goals against average.

Annika Schmidt AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN MOST OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES: Annika Schmidt continues to be one of the more dominant players in the West Coast Conference. She leads the conference in assists (8) and assists per game average (0.80) and fifth in shots (24) averaging almost three a game. Schmidt is also tied for fifth in points (12). Against Cal State Northridge (9/26) Schmidt added two more assists to her league leading total, leading the Dons to an 4-0 victory. Schmidt was named co-West Coast Conference player of the week for the week of 8/25 -8/31.

THE DONS RANK HIGH IN CONFERENCE TEAM STATISTICS: The Dons are ranked high in many of the WCC statistical categories. The Dons lead the league in shots (156) and are third in points (64), goals (23), and goals per game (2.3) behind only Santa Clara and Pepperdine, and are second in corner kicks (39) behind Santa Clara. The Dons are also third in assists (18) and assists per game average (1.8), behind only Santa Clara and Pepperdine.

DONS AMONG THE LEADERS IN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS: Several Dons players are near the top of the leader board in key statistics. Freshman forward Shuree Hyatt is currently in third place in points (15), points per game average (1.50), goals (6), and Hyatt is fourth in goals per game average (0.62), assists (3), and shots (27). Freshman midfielder Chelsea Hunt is second in the conference in shots (35) and game-winning goals (2), and is fourth in the conference in goals (5) and assists (3). Sophomore midfielder Ashley Davies also has four goals, which is good for fifth in the conference. Senior goaltender Jen Orantes ranks fourth in the conference in saves (35) and shutouts (2).

A LOOK AHEAD: The WCC conference schedule kicks off on Sunday, October 12th as the Dons host St. Mary's at 1:00 at Negoesco Field. Currently, St. Mary's has a 3-5 record after losing a 1-0 overtime game to Stanford on Saturday afternoon. USF will then hit the road and head to the northwest to take on Gonzaga (10/17) and defending national champion Portland (10/19).