Match Notes (PDF)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State women's soccer team (2-4-0) faces a pair of familiar faces as it closes out the 2015 non-conference schedule this weekend. The Vikings play at Oregon and Utah Valley, both teams they beat last season in memorable matches that will carry added flair as the teams face each other again in 2015.
 
First comes the Ducks, who the Vikings will play in a match that will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks at 3:30 p.m. (PT). The 2014 PSU-UO match ended in dramatic fashion, as Portland State goalkeeper Caitlin Plese saved an 89th-minute penalty kick with the score tied 0-0, sending the match to overtime where PSU forward Tamia Hasan scored a golden goal two and a half minutes in.
 
The win was the Vikings' first over the Ducks since 2004, as well as the team's first win over a Pac-12 opponent since they beat Oregon State 1-0 on Aug. 21, 2009.
 
The dramatic finish last season will certainly be on everybody's minds when the teams square off Friday, even as many of the major players in last season's match have left their respective schools, including Plese and Oregon forward Bri Pugh, who earned the penalty that Plese saved. Even Hasan, who is in her senior season at Portland State, recently moved from her regular forward position into a defensive role as the starting right back on the Vikings' back line.
 
Both teams have had to gone through major overhauls since their dramatic match last season, as both lost several starters from their 2014 rosters. Portland State only returned four starters from last year, while the Ducks only returned three.
 
Both the Ducks and Vikings will be coming off wins over the same opponent in their last match, as the Ducks beat Air Force 3-0 Friday, before the Vikings topped Air Force 1-0 on a 93rd-minute penalty kick by senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini.
 
A second straight win over the Ducks in 2015 would mark just the second time the Vikings have won two matches in a row in their series against Oregon. The Vikings posted back-to-back wins in 2002 and 2004, before losing seven straight in the series before last year's win. The Vikings' win over the Ducks in 2002 was also the only time the Vikings have beaten the Ducks in Eugene, as they're just 1-6-1 all-time on the road against the Ducks.
 
The Vikings' rematch against Utah Valley, meanwhile, pits them against the team they beat to open the 2014 season, a win that broke a 16-year-old Big Sky Conference record for longest unbeaten streak, which the Vikings eventually extended to 16 matches.
 
The Vikings beat the Wolverines 1-0 behind a 13-minute penalty kick by Mackenzie Bean, while the Viking defense held the Wolverines to just two total shots in the match. The Vikings' defense will have an almost completely new look when they face the Wolverines this season, however, as the entire starting back line for the match last season has left the program. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Angela Haluska does return after starting the match against the Wolverines last season, though, as she earned her first career shutout in the teams' 2014 match while starting in place of the injured Plese.
 
The Wolverines went on to have a highly successful rest of their 2014 season after their loss to the Vikings. They won their first-ever match in the WAC tournament last season, beating Texas-Pan American 2-1 in the WAC quarterfinals. Additionally, goalkeeper Jessica Duffin set single-season school records for goals-against average (0.84), shutouts (9) and goalkeeper wins (13) in 2014.
 
So far this season, the Wolverines have been a dynamic offensive team and should post a challenge to the Vikings' rebuilt defense. The Wolverines have scored 18 goals already this season, giving them an average of 2.57 goals per match, which ranks them 25th in the NCAA. Eleven of the Wolverines' 18 goals scored came in wins over two Big Sky schools, too, as the Wolverines beat Montana and Idaho State – both teams that made the Big Sky tournament last season – by a combined score of 11-3. The Wolverines lost to Southern Utah of the Big Sky, however, as the Thunderbirds beat the Wolverines 2-1 on the road.
 
The Vikings' match against the Wolverines will kick off at 11 a.m. (MT) Sunday.
 
TV BROADCAST:
The Viking women's soccer team makes its Pac-12 Network debut Friday, as the team's match against Oregon will mark the first time the Vikings have ever played on the network. Ann Schatz and Temryss Lane will call the match.
 
LIVE STATS:
Live stats will be available for both matches this weekend. Fans can find the live stats link on the women's soccer schedule page on GoViks.com.
 
SCOUTING OREGON:
The Oregon Ducks (2-5-0) have had a tough start to their 2015 season, as they try to replace eight departed starters from last season. The Ducks' offense broke out with three goals in a 3-0 win over Air Force in their last match, but had gone 1-5-0 while scoring just two goals through their first six matches of the season before that. The Ducks' only other win this season came 1-0 over Fresno State on Aug. 30. The Ducks' tough start to the season has included its fair share of heartbreak, as the Ducks have already lost two matches in double overtime, and gave up the winning goal in their season opener against LSU 20 seconds after they tied it at 1-1. Despite the heartbreak, the Ducks have still been a stout defensive team at times this season, only allowing more than one goal to two opponents so far, and posting a goals-against average of 0.96. The Ducks have only given up one second-half goal so far this season, while four have come in the first half and the other two in double overtime. Individually, the Ducks have started two different goalkeepers so far this season, as Halla Hinkriksdottir has started four matches for the Ducks, while Lauren Holden has started the other three. Hinkriksdottir has started the last two matches for the Ducks and has a better goals-against average and shutout percentage than Holden at 0.74-1.33 and .824-.636, respectively. On the offensive side, no one has scored more than one goal this season for the Ducks, though Abby Morrow leads the team with two assists. Junior Marlo Sweatman, a member of the Jamaica U-20 National Team, leads the Ducks with eight shots so far this season.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS OREGON:
The Vikings' dramatic win over the Ducks last season snapped a seven-match losing streak to their in-state rivals, and raised the Vikings' record against the Ducks to 4-9-1. The Ducks are just 1-6-1 on the road against the Ducks, however, and have lost their last four matches in Eugene. Oregon head coach Kat Mertz has a 1-1-1 personal record against the Vikings, having gone 1-1-0 so far against PSU while at Oregon, and 0-0-1 while at UNLV. PSU head coach Laura Schott, meanwhile, is 1-4-0 all-time against the Ducks.
 
VIKINGS VERSUS THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE:
The Vikings dropped to 8-34-2 all-time against Pac-12 opponents when they lost 3-0 to Arizona State to start their 2015 season. The Vikings last beat a Pac-12 school when they beat Oregon 1-0 in overtime last season. The Vikings hadn't beaten a Pac-12 team since Aug. 21, 2009, before then, when they beat Oregon State, 1-0. All eight of the Vikings' wins over Pac-12 schools have come against Oregon or Oregon State, which the Vikings have each beaten four times.
 
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY:
The Utah Valley Wolverines (4-3-0) have been a prolific offensive team so far this season, scoring 18 goals through seven matches. That total gives the Wolverines 2.57 goals per match this season, an average that ranks them 25th in the NCAA. Worryingly for the Vikings is the fact that 11 of the Wolverines' 18 goals this season have come in two matches against Big Sky schools, as Utah Valley beat Montana and Idaho State – two teams that made the Big Sky tournament last season – by a combined score of 11-3. Junior forward Sheridan Fox, senior midfielder Kasandra Anderson and senior midfielder Jamie Brown have led the Wolverines' offense individually so far, with all three ranked in the top 10 of the Western Athletic Conference in total points. Fox leads the WAC with 11 total points so far this season behind five goals and one assist. Fox's five goals also lead the WAC this season, while Brown ranks tied for second in the WAC with four goals scored. Anderson, meanwhile, ranks tied for the conference lead with five assists so far this season, a total that also ranks her eighth in the NCAA. Besides those three, six other players have scored a goal for the Wolverines, while eight other players have recorded an assist. The Wolverines have recorded 20 total assists as a team this season, nearly double the total of the next-best team in the WAC, and a total that ranks them 10th in the NCAA. Meanwhile, the Wolverines have struggled at times defensively this season, as they've given up 15 goals so far for a goals-against average of 2.11. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Duffin set school records for goals-against average (0.84), shutouts (9) and goalkeeper wins (13) last season, but has struggled while starting every match so far this season. The Wolverines have been a dramatically different team at home versus on the road this season, as they are 4-0-0 while outscoring opponents 14-3 home, but 0-3-0 while being outscored 12-4 on the road.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS UTAH VALLEY:
The Vikings took the lead in their series with Utah Valley with their 1-0 win at the start of last season. With that win, Portland State leads the series 3-2-1 overall. No team has ever won two matches in a row in the series, however, and both teams having winning records in the series on their home fields. The Wolverines have won two of the three matches they've played against Portland State at home, including their last match at home, which was a 4-2 Utah Valley win in 2011.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
Senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini converted a 93rd-minute penalty kick to lead the Vikings to a 1-0, overtime win over Air Force Sunday. The goal gave the Vikings two wins in their last three matches, and marked the second golden goal of Bianchini's career, after she scored the game-winner in the Vikings' 2-1 win over Northern Arizona in 2013. Overall, Portland State outshot Air Force 15-8, including a 7-4 advantage in shots on goal.
 
ANGELA HALUSKA EARNS FIRST CAREER BIG SKY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR:
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Angela Haluska picked up her first career Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week honor Tuesday, after she recorded her second shutout of the season in the Vikings' 1-0, overtime win over Air Force on Sunday. Haluska made four saves in the win, raising her season total to 45, which ranks 22nd in the NCAA. Haluska's 45 saves through six matches also gives Haluska 7.5 saves per match this season, an average that ranks 13th in the NCAA and would rank as the third-best single-season average in school history if the season ended today.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE:
Portland State head coach Laura Schott likes to challenge her team and she's done so again this non-conference season, as the Vikings have played the second-toughest schedule of any Big Sky team so far, according to HEROSports.com. Additionally, the Vikings have already played two opponents who have been ranked in the NSCAA Coaches poll in Arizona State (currently 18th) and Long Beach State (ranked as high as 23rd this season), while the four teams the Vikings have lost to have a combined record of 19-7-3. The Vikings also beat a talented Hawai'i team that put a scare into then-No. 3 Stanford on the first day of the 2015 regular season. Hawai'i led Stanford 1-0 going into the 70th minute of that match, but Stanford came back with two late goals to beat Hawai'i, 2-1.
 
BIANCHINI WRITING HER NAME IN PSU RECORD BOOKS:
Senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini already has her name all over the PSU record book, and will be looking to move up in several categories throughout the season. Bianchini ranks in the top 10 all-time in points (T-6th), points per game (10th), goals (T-6th), goals per game (9th), assists (T-7th), assists per game (10th) and shots on goal per game (8th), and recently moved into the top 10 in total shots (T-9th). Bianchini also ranks just outside the top 10 in shots per game, and will enter the top 10 in total shots on goal with one more.
 
ANGELA HALUSKA, SAVE MACHINE:
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Angela Haluska has been a save machine for the Vikings in her first season as the Vikings' starting goalkeeper, and enters the weekend ranked 22nd in the nation with 45 total saves. Haluska has already had two matches with 10-plus saves, including making 11 saves in the Vikings' 1-0 win over Hawai'i on Sept. 4. Haluska's 11 saves against Hawai'i were the most by a PSU goalkeeper since Lainey Hulsizer made 14 saves against Sacramento State on Sept. 30, 2011. Haluska also made 10 saves in the Vikings' season opener against No. 19 Arizona State, and has made six or more saves in three of the Vikings' other four matches as well. Overall, Haluska averages 7.5 saves per match this season, an average that ranks her 13th in the NCAA and would rank as the third-best single-season average in school history if the season ended today. Additionally, Haluska stands on the verge of entering the top 10 all-time at Portland State in saves per match and save percentage once she meets the minimum requirements, and will enter the top 10 all-time in total saves with 10 more.
 
RETURNERS:
Despite the youth on the defensive side of the field, the Vikings still returned a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball this season, led by last year's co-leaders in points in senior Tamia Hasan and senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini. Hasan led the Vikings with four goals scored last season, while Bianchini led the Big Sky with five assists in conference play and made her second straight All-Big Sky first team last season. Besides them, senior Emma Cooney, junior Bianca Munoz and sophomore Katie Forsee return after starting most of last season at their respective positions. Munoz was an All-Big Sky second-team selection last season, when she started the final 11 matches of the season and ranked tied for second on the team with two assists. Outside of last year's starters, redshirt senior goalkeeper Angela Haluska, redshirt junior midfielder Whitney Hilde, junior midfielder Aurora Bodenhamer, sophomore forward Zoe Vincini, junior midfielder Nikia Evans, sophomore midfielder Dallas Malone, sophomore forward Rachel Michieli and sophomore midfielder Lauren Owens return after playing last season, while redshirt freshman goalkeeper Abbie Faingold and redshirt sophomore defenders Breanne Chilton-Eddy and Kristin Moyer return after sitting out last season.
 
NEWCOMERS:
The Vikings brought in 10 freshmen with their 2015 recruiting class, including five defenders who have helped bolster the team's young defense. Head coach Laura Schott singled out Rachel Ross and Maxine Nagramada as two defenders who could contribute right away, while Laura Gougeon, Zoe Ramer and Dallin Esmond should all also factor into the Vikings' lineup. Outside of the team's new defenders, Ashton Blanksma gives the Vikings a third option at goalkeeper, while Megan Myers, Morgan Matthews, Kylie Long and Krystal de Ramos will all factor into the Vikings' attack.
 
A LOADED MIDFIELD:
The Vikings entered the 2015 season with a loaded crop of midfielders to choose from for a starting lineup. Senior midfielder/forward Cori Bianchini has been a leader for the group, as she led the Big Sky with five assists in conference play last season. Besides her, senior Emma Cooney, junior Bianca Munoz and sophomore Katie Forsee all also returned after starting the majority of the team's matches last season in the midfield. Additionally, redshirt junior Whitney Hilde made three starts in the midfield for the Vikings last season and was part of the Vikings' rotation all season.
 
BIG SKY PRESEASON POLL:
Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings to finish third in the conference this season in the annual preseason coaches poll that was released in August. Portland State earned 74 points in the poll, placing them behind preseason favorites Northern Arizona and Montana. NAU and Montana each earned 93 total points in the poll, but NAU beat out Montana for the top spot on the virtue of NAU's five first-place votes to Montana's four. Weber State received the other two first-place votes and finished fourth in the poll with 72 total points. Northern Colorado and Idaho State, meanwhile, rounded out the hypothetical six-team Big Sky tournament field, as they placed fifth and sixth in the poll with 60 and 57 points, respectively.
 
2014 SEASON RECAP:
A senior-laden Vikings team surged over its final six matches of the regular season to finish second in the Big Sky last season, continuing the team's streak of finishing no worse than second in the Big Sky for the seventh straight season. The Vikings started Big Sky play just 1-2-1 after four matches, but then won five of their last six to finish at 6-2-2. Goalkeeper Caitlin Plese led the Vikings from the back, as she tied the Portland State career record for shutouts with 17 by the end of the season. Plese was also named the Big Sky Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season, and made her second straight All-Big Sky first team along with senior defender Kayla Henningsen and then-junior Cori Bianchini. Senior Kelsey Henningsen also made the All-Big Sky second team as a member of the team's defense, as well as Torie Morris, who was an All-Big Sky honorable mention. The Vikings also set a Big Sky Conference record at the start of the 2014 non-conference schedule, as the team broke the record for longest unbeaten streak with a 1-0 win over Utah Valley in its season opener. That win extended the Vikings' unbeaten streak to a record 14 matches, and the team would stretch it to 16 before a loss to then-No. 21 California snapped it. The Vikings also pulled out a dramatic, 1-0 overtime win over in-state rival Oregon early in the season, giving the Vikings their first win over the Ducks since 2004.