Complete match notes (PDF)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State women's soccer team (2-6-0) opens Big Sky play with a tough homestand against Southern Utah and preseason conference favorite and 2014 Big Sky tournament champion Northern Arizona this weekend. The Vikings host Southern Utah Friday and Northern Arizona Sunday, with both matches kicking off at 1 p.m. (PT) at Hillsboro Stadium.
 
The Vikings head into Big Sky play coming off a pair of tough losses last weekend to in-state rival Oregon and Utah Valley. The Vikings lost both matches 1-0, with both Oregon and Utah Valley scoring the game-winning goal after the 80th minute.
 
Despite the pain of those losses, however, the Vikings defense – once a major question mark with no starters back entering the season – posted a pair of solid performances, and have now held five of its last six opponents to one goal or less. The Viking defense was especially strong against Utah Valley, which the Vikings nearly shut out on its home field. The Wolverines entered last weekend ranked 25th in the NCAA with an average of 2.57 goals per match, and entered their match against the Vikings 4-0-0 at home where they had outscored opponents by a combined score of 14-3.
 
The Wolverines also beat a pair of Big Sky schools by large margins at home before playing the Vikings, as they beat Montana and Idaho State – both Big Sky tournament teams in 2014 – by a combined score of 11-3.
 
The Wolverines played Southern Utah this season, as well, but that match was played on the road where the Wolverines have yet to win a match this season, and the Thunderbirds won 2-1 on a pair of first-half goals.
 
The match against the Wolverines has been the Thunderbirds' only home match of the season so far, as they've faced the toughest non-conference schedule in the Big Sky, according to HEROsports.com, with seven of their eight matches away from home. The Thunderbirds have handled the schedule well, though, and come into their match against the Vikings with a four-match win streak with wins over Dixie State (2-1), Utah Valley (2-1), Houston Baptist (2-1) and South Dakota (3-1).
 
The Vikings' match against the Lumberjacks, meanwhile, gives the Vikings a chance for revenge after the Lumberjacks came back to beat the Vikings 2-1 in the Big Sky semifinals last season, when they went on to win the Big Sky tournament title.
 
The Lumberjacks have consistently been a troublesome team for the Vikings, as they hold the best record against the Vikings of any Big Sky team. Additionally, the Vikings have only won one game over NAU in the teams' last 11 matches against each other, which came in the teams' last match at Hillsboro Stadium in 2013. Current senior Cori Bianchini scored a golden goal in the first overtime period of that match, giving the Vikings their first victory over the Lumberjacks since 2006.
 
Both Southern Utah and Northern Arizona will put the Viking defense to another pair of tests this weekend, as the Thunderbirds and Lumberjacks rank third and first, respectively, in the Big Sky in goals scored this season.
 
LIVE VIDEO:
Live video will be available for both of the Vikings' matches this weekend with play-by-play by Matt Marquette. Fans can access the live stream by clicking the "soccer stream" tab on the women's soccer page on GoViks.com. GoViks.com staff will also publish a special "gameday" article right before the start of the match that will have the stream embedded in it.
 
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 SOUTHERN UTAH:
The Southern Utah Thunderbirds (5-3-0) enter their match against the Vikings with a four-match win streak, beating Dixie State (2-1), Utah Valley (2-1), Houston Baptist (2-1) and South Dakota (3-1) in succession. Overall, the Thunderbirds have been a strong offensive team this season, scoring 15 goals this season, including two or more in six of their eight matches so far. Sophomore forward Ally Thimsen and freshman forward Paige Robins have led the Thunderbirds offensively so far, as they rank tied for the team lead and seventh in the Big Sky with eight total points. Thimsen also leads the Thunderbirds with four goals scored this season, a total that also ranks her tied for fourth in the Big Sky. Robins, meanwhile, has three goals and two assists so far this season, ranking her tied for seventh in goals and tied for 10th in assists in the Big Sky. Junior midfielder Shelby Green also has two assists for the Thunderbirds this season, and ranks tied with sophomore midfielder Jahna Tacson for third on the team with four total points. All of the Thunderbirds' offensive players have been remarkably efficient as well, as the Thunderbirds have scored their 15 goals this season in only 91 total shots. Additionally, Thimsen has scored her four goals on only 11 shots, while Robins has scored her three goals on only nine shots, and Tacson has scored her two goals on seven shots. Meanwhile, defensively, the Thunderbirds have had a more mixed season, as they've given up 13 goals so far, and have played three different goalkeepers already. Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn Caldera has started the last three matches for the Thunderbirds, and has given up only one goal in each match, giving her a goals-against average of 1.00 entering the weekend.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS SOUTHERN UTAH:
The Vikings lost their first match to the Thunderbirds last season, as Southern Utah beat them 2-0 in Cedar City, Utah. Portland State still leads the series 2-1-1, though the teams are tied 1-1-1 all-time in Big Sky matches. The Vikings and Thunderbirds have only played one match at Hillsboro Stadium, which came in 2013 when the teams finished tied, 0-0.
 
SCOUTING NORTHERN ARIZONA:
The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (5-4-0) finished as the hottest team in the Big Sky last season, winning three straight matches at the conference tournament to claim the Big Sky tournament title. The Lumberjacks beat the Vikings 2-1 in the semifinals of the conference tournament, ending the Vikings' season for the third time in the past seven seasons. The Lumberjacks have picked up steam of late this season as well, as they enter the weekend with a three-match win streak during which they've outscored opponents 13-4. Overall, the Lumberjacks have been the strongest offensive team in the Big Sky this season by a large margin, as they lead the conference with 24 total goals, seven more than the No. 2 team in the conference, Idaho with 17 goals scored. Senior forward Haley Wingender, last season's Big Sky tournament MVP, has been one of the best offensive players so far this season, ranking tied for the conference lead with seven goals scored. Wingender also has two assists this season, giving her 16 total points and tying her for second in the Big Sky Conference. Sophomore forward Adrian Nixt, meanwhile, ranks second on the team and tied for fourth in the conference with four goals scored, and also ranks tied for fifth in the Big Sky with nine total points. Outside of Wingender and Nixt, 11 other Lumberjack players have scored a goal, though none of those 11 have scored more than two goals. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks have struggled at times defensively, as they've given up 15 goals so far this season. Junior goalkeeper Natalie Gilbertson started the first seven matches of the season in goal for the Lumberjacks, but sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Dickmann recently took over and has started the last two matches. Dickmann holds a slight lead over Gilbertson statistically, as she has a lower goals-against average than Gilberston (1.44-1.76) and a higher save percentage (.789-.725).
 
ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS NORTHERN ARIZONA:
The Lumberjacks have been a consistent bugaboo for the Vikings, as they hold the best record against the Vikings of any Big Sky team. The Lumberjacks lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, as they are 11-5-5 against the Vikings. The Lumberjacks have controlled the series of late, too, as they have only lost one match out of their last 11 against the Vikings, though that one came in their last match at Portland State in 2013.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Vikings were victims of a pair of heartbreakers last weekend, losing 1-0 to Oregon and Utah Valley on a pair of goals that came in the 80th minute of later. The Ducks beat the Vikings on a goal in the 81st minute, while the Wolverines scored with less than 30 seconds left in regulation to steal the match from the Vikings. The late loss to Utah Valley masked what had been a good game by the Viking defense, which nearly shut out a potent Utah Valley attack that had already beaten fellow Big Sky schools Montana and Idaho State – both Big Sky tournament teams last season – by a combined score of 11-3.
 
PSU DEFENSE STARTING TO FIND ITSELF:
A major question mark going into the season with no starters back on the back line or in goal, the Portland State defense has started to become a strength, as the unit has held five of its last six opponents to one goal or less. The Vikings have had three straight matches where they've given up one or goal or less, including two last weekend when they held Oregon, out of the Pac-12, and Utah Valley, which ranked among the nation's leaders in goals per match, to one goal each in a pair of 1-0 losses. Additionally, the three opponents to score more than one goal against the Vikings all rank in the top 100 of the NCAA RPI.
 
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 (ranked as high as 18th) and Long Beach State (ranked as high as 23rd this season), and 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 on goal (T-7th) and total shots (T-8th). Bianchini also ranks just outside the top 10 in shots per game with an average of 1.68, just .03 off the 10th-best average.
 
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 17th in the NCAA in saves per match (6.75), as well as 21st in total saves (54). 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. Haluska's average of 6.75 saves per match would also rank as the third-best single-season average in school history if the season ended today. Additionally, Haluska moved into the top 10 all-time at Portland State in save percentage, and will enter the top 10 all-time in total saves with one more save.
 
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.