Oct. 1, 2008

SAN DIEGO -

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEKEND
San Diego State will look to extend its seven-match home winning streak this weekend as it kicks off Mountain West Conference action against UNLV on Friday, Oct. 3. The game, which will get underway at 4 p.m. PT, will be televised live on The Mtn. with Erin Bajackson and Tammy Blackburn on the call. The Aztecs will then return to action on Sunday (Oct. 5) when they host Loyola Marymount in their final non-conference game at noon PT.

SERIES HISTORY VS. UNLV
San Diego State leads in its all-time series with UNLV by a 7-6 count, but dropped the last meeting, 1-0, in Las Vegas. SDSU is 4-1 against the Rebels when playing on its home turf.

SCOUTING THE REBELS
Four-time defending Mountain West Conference champion UNLV is off to an 8-3-1 start under fourth-year head coach Katherine Mertz. The Rebels split last weekend's action, defeating Northern Colorado 3-1, before falling to UC Riverside, 3-2.

UNLV ranks among the top three in the MWC in several categories. The Rebels are second in shots (199), goals allowed (11) and goals against average (0.90), and are also tied for second with 24 goals. Sophomore Ashleigh Shoughro has paced the offense with six goals and three assists, while junior Brianna Moore has chipped in five goals. Junior Alicia Lugo has seen most of the action between the posts for the Rebels, racking up 34 saves and a 0.73 goals against average. Lugo is tied for first in the MWC with five shutouts.

SERIES HISTORY VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
San Diego State leads in its all-time series with Loyola Marymount by a 4-2 count, but has lost the last two meetings with the Lions. The two teams will square off for the first time since 2002, when LMU defeated the Scarlet and Black, 1-0, in Los Angeles.

A GLANCE AT THE LIONS
After dropping a 3-0 decision to fifth-ranked USC, LMU enters this weekend's action with a 4-4-2 record. The Lions will host Cal State Northridge before making their way to "America's Finest City."

Loyola Marymount has faced a tough schedule so far this season, coming up empty-handed against four ranked opponents, including Notre Dame, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and USC.

Senior Lauren Shanklin leads LMU on the season with four goals, while sophomore Julie Gallaudet has totaled three tallies and an assist. Sophomore Lilly Sorentino, meanwhile, has played a supporting role with a team-leading four helpers. Junior Allyssa Clark has been manning the net for the Lions and has racked up 56 stops, good for a .800 save percentage. Clark also has a 1.38 goals against average.

Joe Mallia enters his second season at the helm of the LMU women's soccer program. The former UCLA assistant head coach led the Lions to a 12-6-1 record last year, marking the second-most wins in school history.

LAST TIME OUT
The San Diego State women's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision at Cal State Fullerton before rebounding with a 3-0 triumph over San Jose State, marking the Aztecs' seventh straight home victory dating back to last year.

In Friday's game at Titan Stadium, junior Heather Vandevanter gave SDSU an early 1-0 lead as she buried a header off senior Jillian Riker's cross into the right side netting. Riker's assist was her third in the Aztecs' last two games. The Scarlet and Black's lead was short-lived, however, as CSF tied the game at one just 5:04 later. The Titans then came out in the second half and scored a pair of goals within a two-minute span for the final 3-1 margin.

SDSU got back in the win column just two days later with a 3-0 victory over SJSU. The Aztecs received goals from sophomore Cat Walker, freshman Gretel Amman and Vandevanter. The Scarlet and Black opened the scoring at the 8:58 mark, before putting the game out of reach with back-to-back goals in the second half.

SEVEN AND COUNTING
San Diego State is 3-0 when playing at SDSU Sports Deck this year and has won seven straight games on its home turf dating back to last year. The last time the Aztecs lost at the Sports Deck was on Oct. 5, 2007, when they fell to second-ranked UCLA.

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, Southwick is tied for second with 12 shutouts and is fifth among SDSU's all-time leaders with 145 career saves.

VANDEVANTER SHINES
Junior forward Heather Vandevanter has come on strong in the last two games. The Alamo, Calif., native found the back of the net at CS Fullerton and vs. San Jose State and is now tied for second on the team with three goals. She also recorded assists in both games at the Villanova Classic (Sept. 5-7) to rank second on the squad with eight points.

WALKER BACK ON TRACK
After missing the entire 2007 season due to injury, Cat Walker has returned to her old ways, recording a team-leading four goals and an assist in 10 games played. She also ranks first on the squad with nine points and is tied for the team lead with 19 shot attempts.

AMMAN IN THE MIX
Freshman defender Gretel Amman has already been thrown into the mix in just her first year on The Mesa. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native has started every match so far and is tied for third on the team with two tallies. Her first collegiate score was the game-tying goal vs. UC Riverside as the Aztecs went on to defeat the Highlanders, 3-1. Amman also found the back of the net vs. SJSU.

GUARDING GORDON
Guarding junior forward Jessica Gordon has proved to be a tough task for opponents. After being limited to only five appearances in 2007 due to an injury, she has already compiled a career-high three goals this season, notching her first multiple-scoring game with two tallies vs. Loyola (Sept. 7). Gordon is currently third on the team with seven points.

COUNT ONE FOR CANATSEY
Freshman forward Taylor Canatsey made her first collegiate goal one to remember. With the score knotted at one vs. Arizona State (Aug. 31), the Garden Grove, Calif., native headed in the game-winner on a corner kick play with 2:23 left in regulation.

PIZ LEADS ATTACK
Senior forward Alicia Piz is tied for the team lead with 19 shots on the season. The Morrison, Colo., native has compiled two goals and an assist and tied her career-high with six attempts vs. Loyola (Sept. 7).

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