Game Notes in PDF format

ON THE SCHEDULE
Friday Aug. 20 · at No. 5/8 Portland · 7 p.m. · Merlo Field
Sunday Aug. 22 · Boise State · 11 a.m. · Rinaldo Field - Nike World Campus

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Portland State at Portland - 800AM KPQD; Live video also available at PortlandPilots.com
Boise State at Portland State - Live Stats available at GoViks.com

PORTLAND, ORE. - The 18th season of Portland State women's soccer kicks off this weekend against a pair of familiar foes in crosstown-rival No. 5/8 Portland Friday and Boise State on Sunday. Both teams competed in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, with the Pilots advancing to the quarterfinals. The Vikings, 10-6-4 a year ago, are the reigning Big Sky Regular Season Champions and are aiming for an NCAA Tournament berth in '10.

PSU vs. PORTLAND
Portland State trails All-Time Series, 0-5-0
Friday night's match against the Pilots will be the Vikings first since 2007, with then No. 3 Portland defeating PSU, 7-0. Portland State trails the all-time series 0-5-0 and first met the crosstown foe in 2003, an 8-0 drubbing by the Pilots.

The following season, the Vikings played a highly contested match at PGE Park that was 0-0 at the half. However, UP would go on to win the match 2-0.

Last Spring, the Viks played tight with the Pilots but fell 3-0. Megan Martin and Kala Renard both had great scoring chances in the match but were unable to convert.

PSU vs. BOISE STATE
Portland State trails All-Time Series, 0-7-1
The Vikings will meet the Broncos in Portland for the second-straight season and will look for the program's first victory over the Blue and Orange. The two teams met in a similar situation last year as it was the Vikings home opener.

The match was played at PCC-Rock Creek in 2009 with the Broncos jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead. Kala Renard headed a ball into the net after Amanda Howie launched a free kick to Emily Rohde just outside of the box to make it 2-1. BSU's Maureen Fitzgerald sealed the deal for the Broncos with the final goal and defeated the Viks, 3-1.

The series dates back to 1999. PSU's only tie came in 2002 with the team's deadlocked, 1-1.

THE VIKINGS AND SEASON-OPENERS
Since the program's inaugural season in 1993, the Vikings own a 4-11-2 record in opening contests. The Vikings snapped a six-year losing drought last season when they defeated Oregon State, 1-0. Before that, PSU defeated Colorado College, 3-0, back in 2002.

ABOUT PORTLAND
The Pilots are nationally ranked No. 5 in the NSCAA and No. 8 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com preseason polls this week. They're coming off a 21-2-0 season in 2009 and qualified for the quarterfinals of the College Cup.

UP has qualified for the quarterfinals of the tournament the past four seasons and are two-time national champions, winning in 2002 and 2006.

The Pilots return 16 letterwinners, including midfielders Kendra Chandhoke, Sophie Schmidt and forward Danielle Foxhaven, were named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List Aug. 11.

Below is the listing of the all-time series with Portland.

Portland State trails, 0-5-0
10/8/2003    A    L 0-8
10/12/2004    H    L 0-2
10/5/2005    A    L 0-3
9/17/2006    A    L 0-4
9/23/2007    A    L 0-7

ABOUT BOISE STATE
The Broncos are coming off a season in which they won the WAC Tournament and competed in the NCAA Tournament with a overall record of 13-7-4.

Boise State fell to UCLA in the first round of the tournament last year by a score of 7-1. BSU returns 15 letterwinners to this year's squad.

Below is the listing of the all-time series with Boise State.

Portland State trails, 0-7-1
8/28/1999    A    L 0-4
9/22/2000    H    L 0-1
9/5/2001    A    L 1-2
9/11/2002    H    T 1-1
9/2/2003    H    L 1-2
8/29/2004    A    L 0-2
8/31/2007    N1    L 0-3
8/23/2009    H    L 1-3
1 - Reno, Nevada

CAPTAINS OF THE SHIP
As voted by the players of the defending Big Sky Champions, the Vikings have selected seniors Rachel Jarvis, Emily Rohde and junior Tish Wise as the captains of the 18th Vikings soccer team.

Wise, formerly Parsons, was a captain of last year's championship squad.

THREE: THE MAGIC NUMBER
Portland State Head Soccer Coach Laura Schott will be entering her third-season at the helm of the Vikings squad. Schott was named the Big Sky's co-Coach of the Year after leading the Vikings to the Big Sky Regular Season Championship (4-1-2 in conference) and a 10-6-4 record overall. She enters the 2010 season as the winningest coach in the Big Sky over the last two seasons, with an 8-2-4 record (.714 winning percentage).

In her first season as head coach, Schott finished with a 5-11-4 overall record and a 4-1-2 record en route to a second-place finish in the conference. She is currently fourth all-time victories at Portland State (15) and will likely surpass previous head coach Tim Bennett (16) for third on the list.

NEW HOME
Over the years, Portland State soccer has called several facilities around the Portland-Metro Area home and this year is no different. After playing all of their home matches at PCC-Rock Creek last season, the Vikings will call Hillsboro Stadium home for the 2010 season. The facility will also play host to the PSU football program while PGE Park gets a facelift for the Portland Timbers MLS debut in 2011.

THE ROAD AHEAD
The Vikings will take on four NCAA Tournament qualifiers from 2009 in their first eight matches this season. PSU opens at Portland Aug. 20, followed by Boise State Aug. 22 in Portland, then takes on Oregon State Sept. 10 and San Diego Sept. 19 on the road. The Vikings will face a fifth NCAA Tournament qualifier, Northern Arizona,  Oct. 17.

QUEST FOR THE CUP
Portland State has qualified for the Big Sky Tournament each of the last three seasons, an unprecented accomplishment for the program. However, the Vikings have never won the tournament and received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup.
In 2002, the Viks played Idaho State for the Big Sky Tournament Championship and lost 1-0 in overtime. It is PSU's only appearance in the championship game.

THE NUMBERS
The Vikings will welcome eight freshman to this year's squad - three forwards and midfielders and two in defense. The Vikings have generally reloaded in seasons past, as 10 freshman entered in 2008 and 2009. The team returns nine upper classmen in 2010, compared to eight last season.

BACKLINE OFFENSIVE
Who says defenders can't score? Carles Puyol of World Cup Champion Spain and Portland State would beg to differ with that philosophy. Last season, the Vikings backline combined for three goals and seven assists for 11 points. Toni Carnovale led the defense with two goals, while Emily Rohde led in assists and points with four and six, respectively.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
The confines of PCC-Rock Creek were very kind to Portland State last season as the Viks were an impressive 5-1-2 at the park. The Viks were a stellar 4-0-1 in 2007 at home, marking the only undefeated register at home.  PSU won seven home contests in 2002, marking the most in program history.

KEY MATCHES THIS SEASON
Aug. 20 - at Portland - Crosstown rival and reigning NCAA Quarterfinalist.
Aug. 22 - vs. Boise State - NCAA qualifier last season. PSU has never beaten the Broncos, 0-7-1. Last tie - 1-1, Sept. 11, 2002.
Sept. 10 - at Oregon State - The Vikings defeated the Beavers 1-0 in the season-opening match. OSU would advance to he Sweet 16 of the College Cup.
Oct. 8 - vs. Eastern Washington - The Big Sky Conference opener.
Oct. 17 - at Northern Arizona - NAU defeated PSU in penalty kicks, 4-3, in the Big Sky Semifinal. PSU is 0-3-2 in last five meetings

VIKINGS PICKED THIRD
As voted by Big Sky coaches, the Portland State Vikings were picked to finish third in the 2010 preseason poll. The defending Big Sky Champions were picked to finish fifth a year ago before winning the title. In 2004, when the Viks won their first Big Sky Championship, they were selected to finish third.

Below is this years poll.

2010 Big Sky Soccer
Preseason Coaches Poll

School (First-place votes)     Points
1. Northern Arizona (6)    48
2. Sacramento State (1)     38
3. Portland State (1)    36
4. Weber State    30
5. Idaho State    27
6. Eastern Washington    16
7. Montana    15
8. Northern Colorado    14

BACK FOR MORE
After the 2009 season, Rachel Jarvis thought she'd finished her career as a goalkeeper for the Vikings. Jarvis, who was injured early in the season, did not play in 2009 and was able to use the season as a redshirt.

The Lake Oswego native came to PSU in 2006 and has made 16 appearances and 10 starts in her career with the Vikings. She is also tied for fifth in school history in shutouts  (2) and sixth in wins (2).

28 UNITED AND STRONG
This year's Portland State roster features 28 women, 16 of which lettered for the Vikings last fall. The roster is the largest in school history and tied for the third-largest in the conference this season. Only Northern Arizona (33) and Montana (31) have more players.

HEY, LET'S GET AWAY
Head Coach Laura Schott is a firm believer in a team concept. Following the team's preseason scrimmage against Concordia (Ore.) Aug. 12, Schott took the team to Keystone Ranch in Prineville, Ore.

The 12,000 acre ranch, owned by Assistant Coach Melanie Langley's father - Leonard, housed the team and staff for teambuilding activities and a quick getaway from the city.

BRING OUT THE MVP BROOMS
Last season, Dolly Enneking and Cris Lewis were respectively named the Big Sky's Offensive and Defensive MVP's after turning in career years and rewriting the Portland State record book. It was only the third time in the conference's 13 seasons that a team has swept the MVP awards. Weber State accomplished the feat last season and Montana did the same in 2004.

Enneking tallied 12 goals and three assists in 20 games this season. She owns the career points and goals records with 57 and 23, respectively. She also owns Portland State's single season goals record.

Lewis sported a 0.97 goals against average and an .839 save percentage in 20 appearances. She owns the single season shutouts record with eight and also owns the career wins, saves and shutouts records.

NINE VIKINGS LEAD WAY ON ALL-CONFERENCE LIST
Portland State placed nine on the Big Sky's All-Conference team released Tuesday. Portland State had three selections on this year's first team. Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona also had three selections. All of the Portland State are selections are listed below.

First Team
Toni Carnovale, Soph. - Defender
Dolly Enneking, Sr. - Forward
Cris Lewis, Sr. - Goalkeeper

Second Team
Amanda Dutra, Fr. - Midfielder
Frankie Ross, Jr. - Forward

Honorable Mention
Emily Rohde, Jr. - Defender
Tish Parsons, Soph. - Defender
Kat Robertson, Sr. - Midfielder
Nathalie Wollmann, Sr. - Midfielder

GOLDEN SUPREMACY
For her conference leading 10 points (four goals, two assists), Dolly Enneking was named the Golden Boot Award winner in 2009.

She was the second consecutive and fourth Viking overall to win or share the coveted title, the most in Big Sky history. Listed below are all Golden Boot winners and their points breakdown.

2009: Dolly Enneking - 4g, 2a - 10 points
2008: Frankie Ross - 3g, 2a - 8 points *
2004: Jamie Blakesley - 6g, 1a - 13 points
2002: Katie Miyake - 5g, 1a - 11 points $

* - Shared the award with three others.
$ - Shared the award with one other.

PRESEASON BREAKDOWN
In the previous 14 Big Sky soccer preseason polls, the Vikings have only been the favorite once (2005). In 2004, when the Vikings won their first conference title, they were selected to finish third. Last season the Viks were picked picked fifth.

Here's a rundown since 2002 of PSU's preseason forecast.

YEAR    PICK    FINAL RECORD/PLACE
2002    6th    13-5-2/t-2nd
2003    2nd    7-10-1/5th
2004    3rd    8-8-3/t-1st*
2005    1st    5-11-2/t-4th
2006    6th    4-13-1/5th
2007    6th    7-10-2/4th
2008    5th    5-11-4/2nd
2009    5th    10-6-4/1st*

* - Hosted Big Sky Conference Championship

NEXT UP
The Vikings will head to Las Vegas to take on Louisiana-Monroe and Albany in the Las Vegas Invitational Aug. 27 and 29, respectively.