Sept. 3, 2008

SAN DIEGO -

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEKEND
San Diego State will look to extend its two-game unbeaten streak this weekend as it travels east for the Villanova Classic. The Aztecs will take on tournament host Villanova on Friday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m. (ET), before battling Loyola (Md.) two days later at 11:30 a.m. (ET). Both games will be played at West Campus Soccer Complex.

SERIES HISTORY VS. VILLANOVA
This will mark the first meeting between SDSU and Villanova.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Villanova has started the season off with three straight victories. The Wildcats opened the 2008 campaign by pouncing on UMBC, 7-0 (Aug. 24).

Last weekend, Villanova headed to Burlington, Vt., for the TD Banknorth Classic. On Friday, the Wildcats scored two first half goals against New Hampshire and were able to hold on for the 2-1 victory. Playing against host Vermont two days later, Villanova broke open a scoreless tie with three goals in the final 13 minutes of play to claim the tournament championship.

Senior Erin Hardiman was named the Offensive MVP at the TD Banknorth Classic and has recorded at least one point in all three games. She currently leads the team in goals (3), assists (4) and points (10). Junior Molly Williams has been minding the net for the Wildcats, amassing nine saves and a 0.33 goals against average.

SERIES HISTORY VS. LOYOLA COLLEGE
This will mark the first meeting between SDSU and Loyola.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
Loyola is 0-2-0 heading into the Villanova Classic this weekend. The Greyhounds dropped their season opener at Virginia, 4-0 (Aug. 22).

On Sunday (Aug. 31), Loyola took a 2-0 lead early in the second half against Old Dominion, but the Monarchs rallied to tie the game and send it into overtime where they sealed the victory with a goal at the 96:39 mark.

Senior midfielder Theresa Ferraina leads the Greyhounds with three points (1 goal, 1 assist), while freshman midfielder Julianne Bausch has one goal to her credit. Junior Brittany Henderson has been Loyola's primary goalkeeper, notching 19 saves and a 3.38 goals against average.

The Greyhounds are coming off a successful 2007 season in which they went 10-6-5 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Loyola defeated Marist, 2-0, in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship a year ago.

LAST TIME OUT
San Diego State picked up a pair of victories last weekend to improve to 2-1-0. The Aztecs earned their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph at Cal Poly. Junior forward Jessica Gordon scored the game-winning goal in the 26th minute, while sophomore goalkeeper Aubree Southwick had six saves, notching her 11th career shutout.

"We put together a great effort," said Aztec head coach Mike Friesen. "We worked hard for the whole 90 minutes and were more physical than we had been previously, which is a big reason for getting the win."

Two days later, San Diego State returned to SDSU Sports Deck for its home opener against Arizona State. The Aztecs were looking to avenge last year's 3-0 loss at ASU and got off on the right foot when sophomore midfielder Cat Walker put the Scarlet and Black on the board at the 13:18 mark.

The Sun Devils battled back to knot the score at 1-1 in the second half with 27:27 left to play. With both teams fighting for the final edge, the game appeared to be going into overtime until freshman forward Taylor Canatsey headed in the game-winner on a cross from Walker with 2:23 remaining.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME
San Diego State kicked off an eight-game home schedule with a 2-1 victory over Arizona State on Sunday, Aug. 31. In 2007, five of the Aztecs' nine victories were won at SDSU Sports Deck. After two weeks on the road, the Scarlet and Black will return to The Mesa for a 4 p.m. contest vs. UC Riverside on Friday, Sept. 19.

2008 CAPTAINS
This season, the Aztec women's soccer team will have two captains in junior defender Millie Allen and redshirt sophomore midfielder Cat Walker.

Allen, a 2007 all-MWC second-team selection, appeared in every game last season. The Thornton, Colo., native scored her first career goal against Cal Poly (Sept. 14) and added the game-winner in the Aztecs' 1-0 upset over Arizona on Sept. 30. Allen has earned the starting nod in 46 career contests.

Walker was named a co-captain last year but suffered a season-ending injury in an exhibition game. As a freshman in 2006, the Folsom, Calif., native started 17 of the 19 contests she appeared in and tied for second on the team with three goals scored.

IN THE BOOKS
San Diego State returns its top goalkeeper from a year ago in sophomore Aubree Southwick. The Danville, Calif., native started 20 games in 2007, playing in all but 82 minutes during the season. Southwick wasted no time in etching her name in the SDSU record books, racking up a single-season leading 106 saves.

On the career list, she tops the charts in goals against average (0.87) and is fourth in shutouts (11). Also, with her 10 blocks last weekend, Southwick is just 13 stops away from breaking into the all-time top five saves leaders at SDSU.

COUNT ONE FOR CANATSEY
Freshman forward Taylor Canatsey made her first collegiate goal one to remember. With the score knotted at 1-1 vs. Arizona State, the Garden Grove, Calif., native headed in the game-winning goal off a corner kick with 2:23 left to play.

Canatsey also scored in the Aztecs' 2-0 exhibition win vs. UC San Diego (Aug. 18).

WALKER BACK ON TRACK
After missing the entire 2007 season due to injury, Cat Walker has returned to her old ways, notching a goal and an assist vs. Arizona State. Walker currently leads the Aztecs with three points.

FOLLOW AZTEC SOCCER ON THE WEB
Live Stats for this weekend's games are available by clicking on the GameTracker link inside the calendar sidebar on the main page of GoAztecs.com.