Oregon State Women’s Soccer Weekly Digest

The Beavers opened 2006 at the WSU Cougar Classic against a pair of 2005 NCAA Tournament teams. The results were a 2-1 loss to Gonzaga and a 1-1 tie against UNLV.

Photo courtesy: osubeavers.com

CORVALLIS - LOOKING AHEAD — Following a frustrating start to the season, the Oregon State women’s soccer team (0-1-1) will try to get two victories in the win column this weekend as the Beavers host the 2006 OSU Nike Invitational at Lorenz Field on Friday and Sunday. The women get their first official night game under the new lights at Lorenz Field. OSU plays its next five games at home.

GAME #3 — Friday (Sept. 1): Cal State Northridge (1-1) vs. UAB (0-1) at 4:30 PM, followed by Oregon State vs. Northern Colorado (1-0) at 7:00 PM, at Lorenz Field.

GAME #4 — Sunday (Sept. 3): Cal State Northridge vs. Northern Colorado at 11:00 AM, followed by Oregon State vs. UAB at 1:00 PM, at Lorenz Field.

RANKINGS — In the Southeast Region rankings by Soccer Buzz, UAB is #14. OSU dropped out of the Soccer Buzz West Region rankings this week.

SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO — This is the first meeting between OSU and Northern Colorado. The Bears opened the season with a 2-0 win over UTEP, with junior forward Marika Johnson scoring both goals. Senior goalkeeper Chrissy Marvin made 14 saves to preserve the shutout. Last season, Northern Colorado went 7-9-2 overall, and the squad returns nine starters.

SCOUTING UAB — This is the first meeting between OSU and UAB. The Blazers started 2006 with a 1-0 road loss to Clemson. The Blazers went 8-10-1 last year and return five starters.

SCOUTING CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE — The Matadors began the season with a 3-0 home win against Northern Arizona, followed by a 1-0 road loss to Fresno State. Last year, CSUN went 11-8, and seven starters return from that team.

OSU NIKE INVITATIONAL RULES — Though it’s not a true tournament, a first-place finisher will be determined based on results from the two days of competition. Three points are awarded for a win, and one point for a tie. Tie-breakers are in the order of: (1) head-to-head, (2) goal differential, (3) goals for.

STEVE FENNAH SAYS — “We’ve got a string of games at home now, and we’re excited to get back to Lorenz Field. We’ve been very successful at home and hopefully we’ll put a good run together. I expect some very good games this weekend. We had a disappointing opening weekend, especially giving up a goal in the final second, but we battled and we’ll keep getting better.”

2006 HONORS — Naj Homidi, Red Nixon and Jodie Taylor were named to the WSU Cougar Classic all-tournament team.

HOME OPENERS — OSU is 11-7 all-time in home openers and has won the last four.

SEASON OPENERS — With the loss to Gonzaga, the Beavers were beaten for the first time in six season openers (4-0-1 in the previous five) and are now 8-10-1 in such games.

EXPERIENCE — Nine of last year’s 11 starters have returned (although one is injured), and 13 letterwinners are back off of last year’s team that went 10-8-1 overall and 3-5-1 in the Pac-10 for eighth place. Returning players accounted for 83% of last year’s goals, as well as 73% of the assists and 80% of the points. There are 10 newcomers on the 25-woman roster.

2006 SCHEDULE — Both the 2005 national champion (Portland) and runner-up (UCLA) make visits to Corvallis, highlighting the 2006 schedule. In addition to Portland, OSU has already faced 2005 NCAA Tournament teams UNLV and Gonzaga in non-conference play. The Beavers host two four-team events (the OSU Nike Invitational and the OSU Soccer Classic) on Sept. 1-3 and Sept. 8-10. The always-tough Pac-10 season features five NCAA Tournament teams (Arizona, California, Stanford, USC and UCLA).

SUMMER STANDOUTS — Jodie Taylor joined up with the English U-21 National Team a couple of times, and took part in the Nordic Cup in July. She also played for the Boston Renegades in the W-League. ... Jetta Sadusky helped the Colorado Rush win the U-19 club national championship.

JODIE TAYLOR — Junior forward Jodie Taylor (Merseyside, England) is well on her way to becoming OSU’s most prolific player ever. After just two seasons, she ranks second in school history in game-winning goals (10) and is fourth in goals (25) and points (59). She is a two-time All-Pac-10 first team selection (the only player ever to earn that honor twice at Oregon State) and a two-time All-West Region selection, in addition to being named a 2004 Freshman All-American and the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. She is also a member of England’s U-21 National Team, and played this summer with the Boston Renegades in the W-League.

WHITNEY GOODELL — Junior Whitney Goodell (Concord, Calif./College Park HS) is joining Taylor up front. She began 2006 with a goal against Gonzaga. Goodell came off the bench to score four goals last year, including two against Oregon that netted her Pac-10 Player of the Week honors.

RETURNING MIDFIELDERS — The Beavers boast two seniors as their starting central midfielders in Jen Crump (Santa Maria, Calif./Ernest Righetti HS) and Kelli Washburn (Santa Barbara, Calif./San Marcos HS). Crump had three goals and three assists last season. Junior Jetta Sadusky did very well after transferring in last year, with three goals and two assists. The fourth starting position was up for grabs heading into fall camp. Sophomores Kelsey Provo (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon HS) and Julie Arredondo (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS) gained experience last year, and senior Tiara Hong (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Education Laboratory HS) returns to the squad after a one-year absence.

NEW ATTACKERS — After scoring just 24 goals in 19 games last year, Oregon State went out and recruited some dynamic attacking players to help improve the offense. The true freshmen hoping to quickly make their mark are Emily Henshaw (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit HS), Naj Homidi (Fremont, Calif,/Washington HS), Michelle Luckes (Carnation, Wash./Eastlake HS), Loretta “Red” Nixon (Centennial, Colo./Heritage HS), Melissa Peck (Boise, Idaho/Borah HS), Caitlin Ritchey (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon HS) and Jessica Velazquez (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar HS). Peck scored the Beavers’ goal against UNLV.

DEFENDERS — The Beavers tied a school record by surrendering only 22 goals last season. All of the starters are back, but unfortunately, senior co-captain Alison Vislay (Mission Viejo, Calif./Capistrano Valley HS) will likely miss the season due to a knee injury suffered in the spring. Still, OSU boasts a formidable back line with the other returning starters: junior Monica Storm (Chino, Calif./Ayala HS), a former U.S. youth national team member; senior Lauren Wippel (Wilsonville, Ore./Wilsonville HS) and sophomore McKenna Martindale (Lake Oswego, Ore./Lake Oswego HS). Candidates to replace Vislay include sophomore Samantha Pabst (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon HS), who was limited by injuries last year, freshman Sophie Clough (Ashton-under-Lyne, England), a member of the English U-21 National Team, and freshman Chai Parsons (Camas, Wash./Camas HS), who was Washington’s prep 3A co-player of the year.

GOALKEEPERS — Senior Melissa Onstad (Castro Valley, Calif./Castro Valley HS) already holds most of OSU’s goalkeeping records and will be looking to add to her legacy. A four-year starter and a co-captain, she enters the season as the school’s all-time leader in goals-against average (1.09). Her 19 solo shutouts are also a school record. Waiting in the wings are redshirt freshmen Ashley Wood (Corvallis, Ore./Corvallis HS) and Caitlin Seeley (Medford, Ore./North Medford HS).

HEAD COACH STEVE FENNAH — Ninth-year head coach Steve Fennah became the school’s all-time winningest coach in 2004. He’s led OSU to three 10-win seasons in the last five years, and the Beavers achieved their first national ranking in a decade in 2005. Fennah, a native of Wales, has had 58 Pac-10 All-Academic selections in his first eight years.

LORENZ FIELD AT VALLEY STADIUM — OSU’s home since 1996, Lorenz Field at Valley Stadium is one of the nicest fields on the West Coast. It seats 1,500 fans and has an enclosed press box on the west sideline. Lights have been added in 2006, giving more fans the opportunity to attend night games. The Beavers are 45-49-3 playing on Lorenz Field, and are 12-5-1 since the start of the 2004 season. There is no charge for admission to OSU soccer games.

PAC-10 POLL — The Beavers were picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the Pac-10 preseason coaches’ poll. The predicted order of finish was: UCLA, California, Stanford, USC, Arizona, Oregon State and Washington State (tied), Arizona State, Washington, Oregon.

UP NEXT — The Beavers host their second straight four-team event with the OSU Soccer Classic on Sept. 8th and 10th. OSU will play Iona and New Hampshire and Oregon is the fourth team participating

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