USF Heads up to Gonzaga and Portland to Continue WCC Action

Oct. 14, 2003

October 17th @ Gonzaga - 2:00 PM Spokane, WA/ Martin Field

October 19th @ Portland - 2:00 PM Portland, OR/ Merlo Field

DONS DROP WCC OPENER TO ST. MARY'S, 1-0; CONTINUE CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEKEND: The USF Dons women's soccer team opened their West Coast Conference season against the St. Mary's Gaels Sunday afternoon at Negoesco Field. In a game that saw both goaltenders combine for a total of 19 saves, The Gaels (5-6-1, 1-0-0 WCC) found the net at the 87:10 mark of the second half, and held on to beat the Dons, 1-0(4-9-0, 0-1-0 WCC). Saint Mary's defender Jen Belzer took a pass up the middle from midfielder Joelle Gizzi, beat one defender, and found the right corner for the goal. Senior goaltender Jennifer Orantes was strong in goal for the Dons all day, making 11 saves. The loss takes her season record to 4-9-0. The Dons did have a couple of good chances to score in the second half. In the 51st minute, junior midfielder Annika Schmidt sent a crossing pass to the middle and with the St. Mary's goaltender out of position, the Dons tried to punch it. A nice play at the last moment by a St. Mary's defender saved the goal for the Gaels and kept the game scoreless. In the 74th minute, freshman midfielder Chelsea Hunt made a nice pass to the middle that went right over the head of the St. Mary's goaltender, but the Dons were not able to convert. Hunt Led the Dons with five shots taken. Schmidt had three shots, and freshman forward Kate Nelson had two.

DONS TO TAKE ON GONZAGA AND PORTLAND THIS WEEKEND: USF will makes its first WCC road trip of the season this weekend when they travel north to take on Gonzaga (8-5-0) on Friday, October 17th and defending national champion Portland (12-2-0) on Sunday, October 19th. These two teams squared off with one another last weekend, with the Pilots shutting out the Bulldogs 4-0. The Pilots dominated this game from start to finish, out shooting Gonzaga 29-3. They also had a decisive advantage in corner kicks, 12-1, with eight coming in the 13 minutes. Wanda Razdowaska led the Pilots with two goals and an assist, while Lindsey Huie added two assists.

SCOUTING GONZAGA: The Bulldogs are off to an 8-5-0 start this season, winning five of their last six contests. Junior forward Annie Hawkins leads the offense. Hawkins leads the West Coast Conference in almost every offensive category so far this season. On the season, Hawkins has a conference-leading 10 goals and one assist, good for 21 points, also the conference high. She has taken a conference-high 45 shots, one more than USF Don Chelsea Hunt. Leading the Bulldogs in assists is Walker Loseno with four. In goal, Gonzaga is led by Ashley Haugen. Haugen leads the WCC in saves with 86 and saves per game average, with 6.62. She has a record of 8-5-0 this season. Last season, the Dons beat Gonzaga 2-1 at Negoesco Stadium. Overall, the Dons lead the series 9-1, winning the last three consecutive matches.

SCOUTING PORTLAND: Portland comes into this match winners of their last eight games, with their last loss coming on September 14th, in double overtime, against #8 Connecticut. Portland is led this season offensively by sophomore midfielder Lindsey Huie. The reigning WCC player of the week, Huie has four goals and a conference-leading 11 assists for a total of 19 points. The leading goal scorer this season for the Pilots has been Wanda Razdowaska, with six goals. In goal, Portland looks to freshman Cori Alexander. Alexander has a 11-2 record on the season, giving up only seven goals in 14 games this season, for a goals against average of 0.51. She has 43 saves on the season. The defense is led by second-team All-WCC player Imani Dorsey. Last season, the Pilots beat the 3-0.

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 is second in the conference with assists (8) and assists per game average (0.62) and fifth in shots (33) averaging almost three a game. Schmidt is also tied for seventh in points (12). Against Cal State Northridge (9/26) Schmidt added two assists, 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.

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 RANK HIGH IN CONFERENCE TEAM STATISTICS: The Dons are ranked high in many of the WCC statistical categories. The Dons are third in the league in shots (195) and are fourth in points (69), goals (25), and goals per game (1.92) behind only Santa Clara, Pepperdine, and Portland and are second in corner kicks (68) behind Santa Clara. The Dons are also fourth in assists (19) and assists per game average (1.46), behind only Santa Clara, Pepperdine, and Pepperdine. With 59 saves, the Dons are in second place in the conference behind Gonzaga.

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 fourth place in points (16), goals (6). She is fourth in goals per game average (0.46), fifth in assists (4), points per game average (1.00) and sixth in shots (32). Freshman midfielder Chelsea Hunt is second in the conference in shots (44), third in game-winning goals (2), and is fourth in the conference in goals (5). Senior goaltender Jen Orantes ranks third in the conference in saves (54).

SCHMIDT CLOSING IN ON THE ALL-TIME ASSISTS TOP FIVE: 12 games into her first season on the Hilltop, junior Annika Schmidt is already closing in on the top five in career assists. Presently, Schmidt has eight assists. The fifth spots all time are held by Kishandee Green (1995-98) and Jannik Abel (1994), each with 10 assists for their career.

IF IT'S A WIN, IT MUST BE A SHUTOUT!: So far this season all four of the wins for the Dons have been shutouts. The all-time USF record for shutouts in a season is 10, which was done in 1994. That season the Dons went 12-6-1, the best season in USF Dons Women's Soccer history.

TEAM LEADERS IN KEY STATISTICS:
Goals - Shuree Hyatt (6)
Assists - Annika Schmidt (8)
Points - Shuree Hyatt (16)
Shots - Chelsea Hunt (44)
Saves - Jennifer Orantes (54)
Wins - Jennifer Orantes (4)

A LOOK AHEAD: When the Dons return home after their trip to the Northwest, they will host Santa Clara (7-3-4) on Friday, October 24th and San Diego (6-4-3) on the Sunday, October 26th. This Friday, Santa Clara will play host to Loyola Marymount and San Diego will play Pepperdine in Malibu.