Fresno State Athletics
Women's Soccer Wraps Up 2002 Season
11/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Nov. 11, 2002
Wrapping Up Bulldog Soccer
Fresno State completed the 2002-03 campaign with an 8-13-0 overall mark and 5-3-0 ledger in the WAC. The Bulldogs started the season 2-11 after facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation, but closed out the year strong by winning six of their final eight matches. Despite an 8-13-0 overall mark heading into WAC Championships, this year's young Bulldog squad has chalked up some impressive highlights. Fresno State handed conference powerhouse UTEP one of its two losses on the year, as the 'Dogs upset the Miners 2-0 at Bulldog Stadium on Oct. 13. Senior Susan Shivokevich (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and junior Erin Sayegusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) tallied goals for Fresno State in the victory, while freshman Kortney Lewis chipped in with two assists. That triumph would turn out to be the beginning of a five-game winning streak for the Bulldogs, the longest since the 1999 season and best in head coach Stacy Welp's two-year tenure. Included in that five-game stretch was a 2-1 road upset of then-No. 24 Cal State Fullerton, representing Fresno State's first win over a nationally-ranked squad in three years.
Similiarities To 2001
The 2002 campaign ended much like the previous season. The 2001 Bulldogs also finished with eight victories, but went just 4-4 in the WAC compared to a 5-3 mark this year. In addition, the last two seasons have featured identical postseason results. Fresno State defeated Tulsa in the first round of the WAC Tournament in 2001 by a 3-2 count and shutout the Golden Hurricane 4-0 this season. However, the 'Dogs were blanked by SMU 4-0 in 2001 and edged in double-overtime this year 2-1 in the second round of the conference tournament.
WAC Tournament- 1st Round
(Thu., Nov. 7)- Fresno State 4, Tulsa 0
After getting shutout against Hawai'i on Nov. 3 for the first time since September, the fifth-seeded Bulldogs rebounded in a huge way by routing fourth-seeded Tulsa 4-0 in the opening round of the WAC Championship Tournament on Thursday evening. Leading the charge for fifth-seeded Fresno State was the freshman tandem of Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) and Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.), who both notched two goals in the win for the 'Dogs. Fresno State, which matched its highest scoring output of the season, outshot Tulsa 27-10 in the contest. The 27 shots tied a school record for most shots in a match (the Bulldogs also took 27 against Colgate on Sept. 24, 2000). Bulldog goalkeeper Mary-tyler Wahl (Riverside, Calif.) helped preserve Fresno State's fifth shutout of the year, making five saves in the victory.
WAC Tournament- Semifinal Round
(Fri., Nov. 8)- SMU 2, Fresno State 1 (2OT)
Fresno State's upset bid of regular season conference champion SMU came up short as the Bulldogs dropped a hard-fought 2-1 double-overtime decision to the Mustangs in the semifinals of the 2002 WAC Women's Soccer Championship. SMU's Sasha Andrews connected off Jill Heinemann's corner kick with just over three minutes remaining before a possible penalty-kick shootout to give the Mustangs a 2-1 win. Kim Harvey gave SMU the early 1-0 lead in the sixth minute and it looked as if SMU, which boasted the conference's stingiest defense through the regular season, would easily preserve the shutout. However, the Bulldogs got the equalizer with just over a minute left in regulation, as sophomore Koleen Anderson (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) headed the ball into the goal following a free kick from junior Kristyn Kellogg (Atascadero, Calif.) to knot the game at 1-1. Both teams went scoreless in the first overtime and appeared to be heading to penalty kicks before SMU's Andrews knocked home the game-winner at 106:54.
Bulldogs at WAC Championships
Fresno State, which has qualified for the WAC Tournament in each of the past eight seasons, holds a 5-8 mark in conference postseason play. The Bulldogs have never claimed the championship in their brief eight-year history and have never won more than a game in the tourney. This season the Bulldogs blanked Tulsa 4-0 in perhaps their most complete game of the season before dropping a hard-fought 2-1 double-overtime decision to eventual champion SMU in the semifinals. Fresno State and Tulsa have squared off against each other at WAC Championships for three consecutive seasons, while the Bulldogs and Mustangs have met for two straight years.
Turning it Around
After losing nine of its previous ten matches, the Bulldogs won five of their last six entering postseason play. The five-game winning streak was the longest since 1999 (Sept. 14-Sept. 30) and best in head coach Stacy Welp's two-year tenure. The early struggles of playing a tough non-conference schedule have proved valuable for the Bulldogs, who were one of the WAC's hottest teams down the stretch and earned the fifth seed in the WAC Tournament.
Offense Finds Right Time To Explode
When you put together five victories in a row, different aspects of your game tend to click together. For example, take a look at Fresno State's offensive production during its recent five-match winning streak. The Bulldogs outscored opponents 14-6 during that stretch and recorded at least three goals in three of those five games. Fresno State matched its highest scoring output of the 2002 season in a 4-3 overtime win at Boise State on Oct. 20.
Shots A Plenty
Fresno State exploded for 27 shots against Tulsa in the first round of the WAC Tournament, tying a school record in the process. The 27 shots in a single match were the most for the Bulldogs since accumulating the same total at Colgate on Sept. 24, 2000. Six players notched at least three shots in the 4-0 victory, with junior Erin Saygusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) leading the way with five. Freshmen Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.) and Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) each had four along with two goals apiece.
Koleen Keeps It Alive
With SMU's defense playing like it had much of the season and the Bulldogs already down 1-0 early in the first half, things weren't looking very good for a possible Fresno State upset of the Mustangs in the WAC Tournament semifinals. SMU would dominate throughout until the final minute of regulation, when sophomore Koleen Anderson (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) headed the ball into the goal following a free kick from junior Kristyn Kellogg (Atascadero, Calif.) to knot the game at 1-1 and force overtime. After a scoreless first overtime, the Mustangs connected on a corner kick with just over three minutes remaining before a possible penalty-kick shootout would have taken place.
Three Bulldogs Named To All-Tournament Team
Fresno State may not have received any WAC Player of the Week honors during the regular season, but the Bulldogs were well-represented on the WAC All-Tournament Team. Freshmen Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.) and Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) were selected the squad after both players turned in impressive offensive performances in a 4-0 win over Tulsa, while senior goalkeeper Mary-tyler Wahl (Riverside, Calif.) was the only netminder selected to the squad. Wahl made 10 saves during the tourney and preserved a 4-0 shutout of Tulsa.
Fresno State Lands Three to All-WAC
Three Bulldog student-athletes were awarded conference honors for women's soccer, as senior Mary-tyler Wahl (Riverside, Calif.), junior Erin Sayegusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) and freshman Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) earned All-WAC Second Team accolades. Wahl has been between the posts for all 21 games and played in 1919:45 in goal this year and made 94 saves- a career high in that category. Wahl has also notched four shutouts this season. Sayegusa, who has started 15 of the 21 matches she has appeared in this year, is currently third on the squad in goals scored (5), points (11), shots (41) and shots on goal (17). She has been a clutch performer with three-game winning goals and has also recorded one assist this year. Nokso-Koivisto has given Fresno State one of its best scoring threats up front in her first year. She is second behind teammate Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.) in goals scored (9), assists (5), points (23) and shots (43). One of just four student-athletes to start all 21 games this season, Nokso-Koivisto already has made her mark on the record charts, as she is 10th on the all-time points list with 23 and 10th on the goals list with nine.
Bulldog Stadium Woes
The home turf just wasn't that advantageous for Fresno State this season, as the Bulldogs recorded a 2-5 mark at Bulldog Stadium. However, three of those losses came to top-25 caliber progams in UCLA, California and SMU. Despite its struggles, the Bulldogs were able to upset UTEP 2-0 on Oct. 13 in front of a raucous crowd to hand the Miners just one of two losses on the year.
Hunt For Red October
Fresno State hopes to duplicate its October success in the month of November. The Bulldogs finished out the month with a record of 6-2, courtesy of a five-game winning streak during WAC competition. Victories over then-No. 24 Cal State Fullerton and UTEP highlighted the month of October for Fresno State, which had not won six games in October since the 1997 season.
So How Do You Play?
Forgive the 2002-03 Bulldogs if they have forgotten the rules for overtime. After all, the Dogs have not tied a match since the 1999 season, when they battled UTEP to a 1-1 double-overtime draw on Oct. 22 in El Paso. While just three of Fresno State's games have reached the overtime session this year, only one went into extra time last season. Overall, Fresno State has now gone 63 consecutive matches without a tie.
Fantastic Freshmen
Part of the reason for Fresno State's recent surge has been the play of its freshmen. Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.) has been impressive in her rookie season, led the club with 10 goals scored, seven assists and 27 points. She also has taken more shots than any other player this on the roster this year- 53. Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) has given Fresno State yet another scoring threat up front in her first year. She finished second behind Lewis in goals scored (9), assists (5), points (23) and shots (43). Both Lewis and Nokso-Koivisto tallied two goals apiece in Fresno State's 4-0 win over Tulsa in the WAC Tournament.
Wall of Steel
Mary-tyler Wahl (Riverside, Calif.) was steady in goal this season for Fresno State. She played all but 10 minutes between the posts and accumulated 94 saves, while allowing just 45 goals. Wahl posted a 2.11 GAA and finished second on the all-time list of GAA at 1.63 and with 247 saves. The senior netminder also recorded four shutouts to her credit in 2002, giving her 13 for her career. She notched a season-best eight saves on four occasions this year.
Sayegusa Turning It Up
Junior Erin Sayegusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) was a large part of Fresno State's late-season success. The forward found the net in the Bulldog's 3-2 victory over San Jose State, and then added the game-winning goal in the 2-1 upset of Cal State Fulleton. She followed that up with a five-shot performance against Hawai'i. Overall on the season, she was third in goals scored (5), points (11) and shots (41). She also was a clutch performer in 2002, notching three-game winning goals for the 'Dogs.
All-Time Against the WAC
Fresno State is 22-19-4 all-time against WAC opponents during the regular season, and holds a 5-8 mark in WAC Championship action. The Bulldogs have a losing record against just one current WAC team, SMU (1-8). Fresno State is 1-1 against Boise State. The Bulldogs' most common foe and also the one they've had the most success against is San Jose State. FS is 7-2-1 against the Spartans. Against Tulsa, Rice, Nevada and Hawai'i, the Bulldogs have a combined 12-7-3 mark.
Run at the Records
Junior forward Erin Sayegusa (Honolulu, Hawaii) moved into seventh place all-time with 28 career points. She is also currently in seventh place with 11 goals on the all-time list, as well as eighth place with six assists. Katri Nokso-Koivisto (Kokkola, Finland) has also made her mark, as she is tenth on the career points list with 23 and 10th on the goals list with nine. Kortney Lewis (Visalia, Calif.) is also steadily making a climb up the charts, as her 27 points rank eighth in that category and her seven assists are good for fifth on the charts.
'Dog Bones
- FS is 80-77-7 since the inception of the program in 1995.
- FS has appeared in the WAC Tournament every season since 1995.
- The Bulldogs made their only NCAA appearance in 1999 when they faced Cal Poly in the first round (a 2-1 loss on Nov. 10 at Bulldog Stadium).
- Prior to this year, FS had posted a 17-9-1 mark at Bulldog Stadium over the past three seasons.
- Since 1996, FS has ranked in the top 15 in the nation in attendance average.
- Last season marked the first time FS face three top-six nationally ranked teams in one year.
- The highest ranked opponent the Bulldogs have beaten was No. 7 USC in 1999.
- FS has produced 11 first-team All-WAC selections and nine second-team selections since beginning WAC play in 1996.
- Freshman Kortney Lewis is the first FS recruit to have played in the USYSA Region IV U-15.
- FS has one professional player (Christina Bell) in the 2001 inaugural WUSA. Bell helped the Bay Area CyberRays win the first ever WUSA Championship.
