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2009 WAC tournament soccer preview
Matt Bedinger, Journalist
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JOSH RASMUSSEN/THE ARBITER. Boise State's Ashley Walsh battles with Hawai'i defenders during last weeks game in Boise, Idaho.
The 2009 WAC Women’s soccer championships are being held this week in Boise at the Boas Soccer and Tennis Complex. Below is a preview of the teams, listed from top to bottom seeds.
1) San Jose State Spartans
Record: (11-5-3, 5-1-2 WAC)
The Spartans entered their final regular season conference match against Boise State on a 14-game unbeaten strike. The Broncos ended the streak, as well as SJSU’s unbeaten conference record, with a 1-0 win over the Spartans. It was the first time in nearly two months the Spartans lost. SJSU will try to overcome its untimely first loss in WAC play and capture the tournament title. The Spartans have a first round bye and will face the winner of Nevada versus New Mexico State in the semifinals.
Players to watch: Emmy Belding- The senior forward leads the Spartans in goals scored with 10 and also has an assist this year.
Roxy Kamal- The senior forward/midfielder leads the team in points, with seven goals and nine assists on the campaign.
2) Utah State Aggies
Record: (9-8-2, 5-2-1 WAC)
Utah State enters the tournament with a bit of momentum. They’ve won their last two games after falling to Hawai’i 3-1. The Aggies rank in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, but just find a way to get the job done. After the disappointing loss to Hawai’i, the two straight wins at the end of the year paired with SJSU’s season finale loss to Boise State should give Utah State ample confidence. Utah State has a first round bye and will play the winner of Boise State versus Fresno State in the semifinals.
Players to watch: Shantel Flanary - Last year’s WAC Freshman of the Year tied for the second most goals in conference this year and is a threat up top every time she touches the ball.
Lauren Hansen- Flanary’s partner at forward combined with Flanary to take 111 shots for the team between the two. Of the 56 she took, Hansen tallied six goals and added three assists.
3) Boise State Broncos
Record: (9-6-4, 5-3-0)
Boise State takes the WAC’s most dominant defense into the tournament, allowing just 0.81 goals per game and posting 7 shutouts on the year. The Broncos’ are a unit that needs to work together to win games with no standout player. Forwards Erica Parks and Shannon Saxton have each tallied six goals and two assists this year to lead Boise State in scoring. A big season finale win over previously unbeaten-in-conference San Jose State earned the Broncos the number three seed and they’ll be looking to take advantage of it. Their first round game is against Fresno State Thursday at 3 p.m.
Players to watch: The defense- It’s clear that this is their bread and butter. Man marking and not allowing uncontested shots will be the key to the Broncos’ success along with timely goals.
Cheyenne Jones- Everyone knows about Saxton at forward, but it seems like Jones, a junior midfielder, quietly plays a part in every Bronco attack. She has 2 goals and 1 assist on the season.
4) Nevada Wolf Pack
Record: (8-11-0, 5-3-0)
Although opening their season with five consecutive losses by the cumulative score of 15-1, the Wolf Pack rocked conference play and won their last three games to clinch the fourth seed in the tournament. Ranking seventh in conference in goals per games and last in goals against average, it’s hard to figure out how they are the fourth seed. But when you look at the schedule, it becomes much more clear. They simply beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. With the exception of Fresno State, the Wolf Pack beat every WAC team this year ranked below them heading into the tournament. Three straight wins at the end of the year, including a 1-0 double overtime win over first round opponent New Mexico State, should give Nevada momentum heading in. Nevada plays New Mexico State in their first round match at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Players to watch: Marie Cove- The junior goalkeeper is playing her best soccer of the season at the right time and was named last week’s WAC defensive player of the week.
Jill Erickson- Erickson, a junior midfielder/forward has four goals and one assist on just 14 shots all year.
5) New Mexico State Aggies
Record: (11-8-1, 4-3-1)
New Mexico State, in its inaugural season, is the fifth seed heading into the tournament. On the other end of Nevada’s spectrum, after going unbeaten in their first five conference games, the Aggies dropped three straight contests to end the regular season and missed out on a potential first round bye. NMSU leads the conference in only one statistical category: yellow cards. However, they are a hot and cold team, with a seven game unbeaten streak right before their three game losing streak. If they can get through their first game, they could win the whole tournament. They play Nevada in the first round at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Players to watch: Jazmin Cardoso- Cardoso, just a freshman in the midfield, leads the Aggies in shots and goals, and has taken and converted all three of the Aggies’ penalty kicks this year.
Yolanda McMillion- McMillion, a freshman defender, has tallied three goals on the year for NMSU. All three goals have been game-winners.
6) Fresno State Bulldogs
Record: (6-12-0, 4-4-0)
Last year’s WAC tournament champions enter this year as the last seed in the bracket. Fresno State has played in the last four WAC tournament championship games. In their conference game this year, Boise State beat Fresno State 3-1. Fresno State is last in the WAC, averaging just 0.72 goals per game and will need to get a spark offensively if they’re going to make a run. They also rank seventh in goals against average, at 1.33 per game. The Bulldogs play Boise State in the first round at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Players to watch: Claudia Cardenas- The junior forward has scored five of the 13 goals this year for the Bulldogs. Cardenas has put 16 of her 20 shots all year on goal.
Kaitlyn Revel- For the last two years, Revel, a junior, was a first team All-WAC goalkeeper and was named to the WAC All-Tournament Team. She’ll need to return to that form to help the Bulldogs win the tournament.
The tournament kicks off Thursday at 12:30 p.m. with Nevada versus New Mexico State and is followed by Boise State versus Fresno State at 3 p.m.
To look at the full tournament bracket, go here.