'Dogs Continue Conference Play on the Road

The 'Dogs are set to travel to Boise, Idaho and Logan, Utah over the weekend.

'Dogs Continue Conference Play on the Road

10/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Oct. 8, 2014

By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

Game 14 • Fresno State (3-10-0) vs. Boise State (4-6-3)
Friday, Oct. 10, 2014 (3 p.m. PT)
Boise, Idaho --- Boas Soccer Complex
GameTracker: broncosports.com

Game 15 • Fresno State (3-10-0) vs. Utah State (6-4-2)
Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 (11 a.m. PT)
Logan, Utah --- Chuck & Gloria Bell Soccer Field
GameTracker: utahstateaggies.com Live Steam: UtahStateAggies.tv

Week Three of Conference Play
The Fresno State women's soccer team will continue Mountain West play on the road for the second consecutive week after a pair of wins over UNLV and Nevada last weekend. The Bulldogs are slated to a 3 p.m. matchup with Boise State at the Boas Soccer Complex on Friday, Oct. 10. Following Friday's game, the `Dogs will travel to Logan, Utah to take on Utah State on Sunday, Oct. 12 at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer Field.

Head-to-Head
The Bulldogs lead Boise State with a 7-6-2 series record with four wins at home and three on the road. In 2013, Fresno State faced the Broncos twice and resulted in a split with a 2-1 victory at home followed by a 2-1 (2OT) loss in the semifinal round of the Mountain West Tournament. The `Dogs edge Utah State with a 7-3-3 all-time record. The last meeting between Fresno State and the Aggies was in 2013 when the Bulldogs grasped a 1-0 overtime victory at Bulldog Stadium.

About the Broncos (4-6-3)
Second-year head coach Jim Thomas leads Boise State in its 1-3-0 start in Mountain West play and an overall home record of 2-2-0. Bronco midfielders Brooke Heidemann and Shannon Schueren are currently tied for the team-lead in goals with five each. Boise State began conference with a pair of road games where they fell to Air Force (2-0) and Colorado College (3-1). The Broncos began their four-game home stand last weekend with a 4-1 defeat over Colorado State, followed by a 1-0 (2OT) loss to Wyoming. With 11 starts in the net for the Broncos, freshman goalkeeper Janelle Flores has a total of 49 saves this season and has recorded all four of Boise State's wins. The Broncos trail Fresno State by three spots in the current MW standings at ninth out of the leagues 12 programs.

About the Aggies (6-4-2)
In Utah State's first four games of Mountain West play, the Aggies hold a 2-1-1 record with a draw against Colorado College (1-1), an overtime loss to Air Force (1-0) and sweeping last weekend with two wins over Wyoming (2-0) and Colorado State (1-0). Senior forward Ambryn McCallson was named the Mountain West Soccer Player of the Week by College Sports Madness for leading the Aggies to their first pair of conference victories. Junior goalkeeper Jeannie Woller has started in the net for the Aggies in all 12 matches, recording 38 total saves this season. Led by head coach Heather Cairns in her 12th season at Utah State, the Aggies currently sit in the top half of the league at fifth in the 2014 MW standings.

Banta Earns MW Honors
Domenique Banta earned her first career weekly accolade by being named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for the matches played Oct. 3-5. The freshman goalkeeper from Meridian, Idaho stopped six shots over the weekend, leading the `Dogs to a pair of conference wins over UNLV and Nevada. Banta helped Fresno State record its first shut out of the year over the Rebels with three saves and notched three additional saves in the overtime victory against Nevada.

Bingham leads the `Dogs
Senior Jaycee Bingham currently holds the highest number of goals scored (eight) for Fresno State this season, and has net three of her goals in Mountain West play. The senior midfielder scored once in Fresno State's matchup with New Mexico and led the `Dogs to a 3-2 (2OT) win over Nevada, scoring two of the `Dogs three goals. Bingham also leads the team in shot attempts (32) as well as shots on goal with 16 out of the team's total of 58. Five other Bulldogs have one goal each in addition to two own-goals scored by Fresno State's opponents.

Split Time in the Net
Time in the net has been virtually split in half between sophomore Alyssa Wilson and freshman Domenique Banta. The pair has a combined total of 63 saves in 2014, 31 recorded by Wilson and 29 by Banta. Wilson has spent a total of 483 minutes guarding the net for the `Dogs with six starts and seven games played. Banta has recorded 617 minutes in the box and has a total of seven starts out of the thirteen games played. Wilson and Banta are both new in the box for Fresno State this season.

Bulldog Coaches
Brian Zwaschka has entered his sixth season as the Bulldogs head soccer coach, assisted by goalie specialist Lauren McAdam and first-season assistant Sean Steele. The reigning Mountain West Coach of the Year, Zwaschka, led the `Dogs to a second place conference finish in 2013 with an overall record of 10-8-2 and 7-2-1 in MW play.

MW Rankings
Entering its third season in the Mountain West, Fresno State was chosen to finish sixth with 73 points in the Mountain West Preseason Coaches' Poll. Of the 12 collegiate programs in the running, San Diego State was favored to win the Mountain West regular-season title (115 points) by the panel of MW head soccer coaches. The conference welcomes Colorado College to the 2014 season, and the Tigers finished second in the standings with 112 points and five first-place votes. In addition to the first-place Aztecs and second-place Tigers, Boise State, New Mexico and Utah State were picked to place above Fresno State with a total of only 42 points separating the top half of the poll. Finishing four places above their predicted poll position, the Bulldogs stood second in the league at the conclusion of their 2013 regular season.

Returning Class
With only one true senior on the squad, the Fresno State coaching staff is relying heavily on upperclassmen to step into leadership positions. Jaycee Bingham is one of 12 Bulldog returners, but at the start of her fourth season at Fresno State she is placed into a headship role, as the only true senior on the team. In addition to Bingham, the squad welcomes back Sam Brechmann, Joana Lopez, Alyssa Cruz, Fanny Johansson, Dani Rodrigues, Alyssa Holsworth, Rianna Cota, Amanda Nunes,Angie Weiner, sophomore goal keeper Alyssa Wilson and Mountain West Freshman of the Year Ariana Holmes as they head into their 2014 season.

Newcomers
The 2014 Fresno State soccer roster is made up of 23 total players, in which 11 of them are new to the squad. Of the group of incoming freshmen, 10 of them come from various cities within California including Kacy Dunn from Clovis, Alissa Phamfrom Morgan Hill, Myra Delgadillo from Union City, Peyton Cline from Woodland, Maria Gomez from Los Angeles, Julia Camposfrom Dinuba, Miranda Rudolph from Fresno, Ashari Hines from Sacramento, Sara Jo Ciapponi from Alameda and Carly Brackenfrom Granada Hills. In addition to Johansson, freshman Domenique Banta is the second individual on the team from out of state, joining the squad from Meridian, Idaho. This large group of freshmen not only brings new talent but also adds depth as the `Dogs continue their season under head coach Brian Zwaschka.