PORTLAND, Ore. – Looking to build on a strong 2023 campaign, the Portland State women's soccer team will kick off their 2024 season this weekend with back-to-back road matches.

The Vikings will begin their season on Friday, Aug. 16, with an opener against Boise State (6:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. MT). They'll then travel to Eugene for a Sunday showdown with the Ducks on Aug. 18 (1:00 p.m. PT).

This weekend marks the beginning of a 16-game regular season for the Vikings, who face an unfamiliar start to the year with consecutive road matches. It'll be the first time since the 2020-21 spring season that the Vikings will not play their opener at Hillsboro Stadium.

Earlier this week, the Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll was released, and the Vikings were projected to finish fourth—marking their highest preseason ranking since Co-Head Coaches Katie Burton and Maureen Whitney took the helm. The reigning Big Sky regular-season champion Montana was selected to finish first, followed by Northern Arizona and Idaho.
 

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VIKINGS SOCCER MATCH NOTES // WEEK ONE

PORTLAND STATE AT BOISE STATE 
Friday, Aug. 16 | 6:00pm PT/7pm MT | Boas Soccer Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
Watch on Mountain West Network | Live Stats
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All-time Series: Broncos lead, 11-1-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 5, 2021 (L, 4-0)
Boise State's 2023 Record: 11-4-6 (8-2-1 MWC)
NOTES: Portland State's only win against Boise State came at home in 2012, winning 2-1 in double overtime. The Broncos have held the Vikings' scoreless in their past two meetings (2019, 2021).
 
PORTLAND STATE AT OREGON
Sunday, Aug. 18 | 1:00pm | Papé Field (Eugene, Ore.)
Watch on B1G+ | Live Stats
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All-time Series: Ducks lead, 12-4-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 19, 2021 (L, 1-0)
Oregon's 2023 Record: 0-16-3 (0-10-1 PAC)
NOTES: The Ducks will host the Vikings for the first time since 2019. Portland State is looking for its first victory over the in-state foe since a 1-0 overtime win at Hillsboro Stadium in 2014. UO will play its season opener against Seattle on Thursday, Aug. 15.
 

2024 VIKINGS COACHING STAFF 

In a notable shift, former Associate Head Coach Maureen Whitney was promoted to Co-Head Coach by Katie Burton, who previously held the position alone. Whitney joined Portland State as an assistant coach in 2017, was elevated to Associate Head Coach the following year, and now steps into the co-head coach role alongside Burton. Both coaches are entering their eighth season at PSU this fall. Additionally, Lindsay LaMont, a former Oregon State goalkeeper and Viking assistant coach from the 2022 season, returns to the staff as a full-time assistant, working primarily with the goalkeepers.
 

2023 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

• 8-8-2 overall, 4-2-2 BSC
• Third-place finish in final BSC regular season standings
• Most wins since 2017 (8)
• Most All-Conference honorees since 2017 (4)
• Highest win % since 2014 (.500)
• Most goals scored since 2013 (27)
• Advanced to the Big Sky tournament semifinals becoming one of only four teams in program history to win a BSC tournament match

KEY RETURNERS

Despite losing three all-conference seniors last year, the Vikings are set to return 20 players from their 2023 roster. Among them, eight started at least 12 matches during the team's successful campaign last season. Senior Abi Hoffman, an honorable mention All-Big Sky midfielder in 2023, will be a key leader for the Vikings. Hoffman, who tallied 18 points last season—ranking second in the conference—scored 6 goals and provided 6 assists. Her four assists during conference play led the Big Sky, and she compiled a team-high 48 shots, with 20 on target. She will be joined in the midfield by fellow senior Lucy Quinn, a 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Sky midfielder who has started 35 of the last 36 matches and recorded three goals and two assists over the past two seasons. Fifth-year senior Sydney Watson, who logged 1,424 minutes and started all 18 matches in 2023, will also return to the midfield. Junior Elle Frazier, a former OSAA 6A State Player of the Year, is poised for a breakout season as a forward, having started 34 of 36 matches in her career and tallied three goals and three assists. Junior forward Ocean Rideout will also help lead the Vikings' attack, entering her third season with five career goals.

Defensively, the Vikings will be anchored by juniors Liv Frazier and Kalo Iongi, along with senior Audrey Williams. This trio was crucial in securing Portland State's four shutouts last season. Goalkeepers Natalie Cunningham and Eden Millan also played a significant role in that achievement. Millan, who is using her final year of eligibility in 2024, appeared in seven matches last year with a 2-3-1 record and two shutouts. Cunningham enters her junior season after making 58 saves and recording a 6-5-1 record with two shutouts a season ago. She ended the season with a 1.39 goals-against average.
 

NEWCOMERS

This season, eleven players are set to make their debut with the Vikings, including three with previous collegiate experience. Kamaria Hughes, a 5'6" defender, will join the Vikings' defense as a sophomore after spending one season at Fresno State. Redshirt sophomore midfielder Maya Wells will make her first appearance with Portland State following two seasons at Utah Valley. Additionally, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Finley Crabtree, who utilized a redshirt season at Wyoming in 2023, joined the Vikings this past spring.

The Vikings' roster includes eight freshmen, with five hailing from Oregon. The new additions are: Riley Hodson (GK, Camas, WA / Camas HS), Gianelly Gargurevich (D/F, Portland, OR / Tigard HS), Aliayha Saldana (F, La Habra, CA / La Habra HS), McKenna Eggleston (MF, Tigard, OR / Tigard HS), Grace Sarabia (MF, Aliso Viejo, CA / Mater Dei HS), Sydney Spotts (F, Portland, OR / La Salle HS), Maeve Morris (F, Salem, OR / South Salem HS), and Carmen Lewis (D, Beaverton, OR / Mountainside HS).