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THIS WEEK:
Nov. 2: at #3 Santa Clara, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4: vs. Gonzaga, 1 p.m. - SENIOR DAY
WCC HONORS SINCLAIR’S EXPLOSIVE WEEK, SOCCER AMERICA JOINS IN: Freshman forward Christine Sinclair earned the second West Coast Conference Player of the Week award of her young career, after collecting four goals and three assists in Portland’s two wins last week. Soccer America also named Sinclair to its Team of the Week.
Sinclair had a goal and two assists in the Pilots’ 3-0 over Nebraska, then had three goals and an assist - all in the first half - in Portland’s 6-0 win over San Francisco.
In the latest NCAA national statistics rankings, Sinclair is 12th in points per game (2.13) and tied for eighth in goals per game (0.87).
THE OPPONENTS: Only two teams - Portland and Santa Clara - have won West Coast Conference league titles since round-robin play began in 1992. The Pilots own six WCC titles (2000, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1992); the Broncos own three trophies (1999, 1998, and 1993). Friday’s match marks the 18th meeting between the two teams in a series dating back to 1984. Santa Clara holds a 9-8-1 edge in the series, bu the Pilots have a 6-3-1 edge in WCC games. At Santa Clara in five WCC games, the two teams are 2-2-1 - three of which have gone into overtime. Portland won 2-0 last year on Merlo Field, but Santa Clara won 8-0 in 1999 at home.
Santa Clara had a 10-match win streak snapped Sunday in a 1-0 loss at Pepperdine. The Broncos, 14-2-0 overall and 4-1-0 in WCC play, outshot PEP 27-7 in the game, but Pepperdine’s first shot in overtime was a game-winner. Aly Wagner leads the WCC with 40 points (13 goals-14 assists), Leslie Osborne adds 29 points (9g-11a), Veronica Zepeda and Taline Tahmassian each have seven goals - the Broncos have outscored opponents 56-9 in 16 games. Alyssa Sobolik has a 0.46 goals against average with five shutouts.
Gonzaga, 0-12-1 overall and 0-4-0 in WCC games before a non-conference match Wednesday at Eastern Washington, comes to Portland having scored just five goals in 13 games. Natalie Hardin leads the ‘Zags with two goals, while Katie O’Brien, Jessie Torres and Ashley Pryor each have a single goal. Brooke Longacre has made 83 saves for GU in goal. Portland is 9-0-0 all-time against Gonzaga after a 3-0 win last season in Spokane. The Pilots have allowed just one Bulldog goal in the nine-game series.
“WATCH” FRIDAY’S MATCH VIA INTERNET: Pilot fans will be able to view a statistical and play-by-play summary of Friday night’s match at Santa Clara, via the internet.
Just log on to www.santaclarabroncos.com, and navigate your way to the Women’s Soccer Livestats link.
SENIORS PLAY FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME ON MERLO: Portland seniors Ana Del Bosque, Brooke O’Hanley and Lindsay Smart wrap up outstanding Pilot soccer careers Sunday in their final regular season home game. Del Bosque, however, won’t be in attendance as she travels to Atlanta with the Mexican National Team for a pair of games with the WUSA’s Atlanta Beat.
The trio has been instrumental in Portland recording a 62-16-3 record over the last four years, including NCAA semifinal appearances in 1998 and 2000.
