Fresno State Athletics
Women's Soccer Opens WAC Schedule At Home Against Rice
10/4/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Back on the Winning Track
After hitting a bump on the road, the Bulldogs got back on the winning track last Sunday, against UC Santa Barbara. Fresno State scored two goals in the 2-1 victory which surpassed the goal total for the previous four matches. Freshman Angela Tafolla (Stockton, Calif.) and senior Aimee Thompson each scored their second goal of the year in the match. Junior goalkeeper Mary-tyler Wahl (Riverside, Calif.) notched her second win of the season while posting five saves.
Young Owls Swoop into Bulldog Stadium
Tonight's match marks the start of conference play for both schools this season. The Owls are 1-4 this year losing their last match to South Alabama 2-1. Rice has had to cancel three matches which accounts for the five matches played this season so far which is the lowest among WAC teams. After defeating Army 3-2 in its season opener, Rice has lost four in a row. The Owls are led by forward Ashley Anderson who has three goals and an assist to lead the team in points. Head Coach Chris Huston enters her first year at the helm for the Owls. Unlike the Bulldogs, Rice has been at home mostly having played only road match so far. This match against Fresno State will be its second.
Defense Best Among WAC Teams
Entering conference play the Bulldogs defense is tied with Rice for fewest goals allowed (Rice has two fewer matches) with 11. The defense which is made up of seniors Jessica Peisch (Fresno, Calif.), Kristi Nicholls (Fresno, Calif.), junior Virginia Jenkins (Lompoc, Calif.) and sophomore Kristyn Kellogg are averaging 1.57 goals per match which is second best in the WAC behind Tulsa who is averaging 1.50. Behind the backline, Mary-tyler Wahl has been outstanding recording 27 saves this season while not allowing more than two goals in match so far.
Deuces Wild
With the two goals last Sunday, the Bulldog scoring breakdown is filled with deuces all around. Angela Tofolla, Aimee Thompson and freshman Barbara Davis (Fresno, Calif.) each have two goals this year. Virginia Jenkins, sophomore Erin Sayegusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) and senior Reyna Green (Modesto, Calif.) each have two points these season. Green and Sayegusa got there with the unconventional route of two assists. And if those deuces weren't enough in six of the seven matches Fresno State has played this season two goals have been scored, either by the 'Dogs or their opponent.
Shot Happy
"If you build it, it will come," was the phrase in Field of Dreams. For sophomore Angela Tafolla if you shoot it (enough times) it will come. Tafolla scored her second goal of the season last Sunday to tie for the team lead in points and goals. This season she has taken 15 shots so far, which is six more than the next Bulldog player. She is tied with Aimee Thompson in SOG with six. Tafolla, who redshirted last season, attempted six shots against Santa Barbara which was her season high and a team high for the season, as well.
