PORTLAND, Ore. - Coming off back-to-back Big Sky semifinal appearances, the Portland State women's soccer team is poised for another strong campaign in 2025. The Vikings open their season on the road this week, taking on a pair of Big 12 opponents: Iowa State on Thursday, Aug. 14 at 4:00 p.m. PT, followed by Kansas State on Sunday, Aug. 17 at 9:00 a.m. PT. 

The Vikings are led by second-year head coach Maureen Whitney, who assumed solo leadership of the program this past January. She is joined by first-year assistant coach Lauren Prott, who spent last season with the team as a video and data analyst.

Thursday's season opener marks the beginning of a 16-match regular season for Portland State this fall and is the first of eight non-conference contests before Big Sky Conference play kicks off in October.

WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
Portland State (0-0) at Iowa State (0-0)
Thursday, Aug. 14 | 4:00pm PT | Cyclone Soccer Complex | Ames, Iowa
Game links: Live Stats | ESPN+ 
Notes: The Vikings and Cyclones have met only once before, on September 7, 2023, at Hillsboro Stadium, where the Cyclones earned a 2-0 win. They went on to finish the 2024 season with a 3-9-6 record, missing out on a spot in the Big 12 Tournament.
 
Portland State (0-0) at Kansas State (0-0)
Sunday, Aug. 17 | 9:00am PT/11am CT | Buser Family Park | Manhattan, Kan.
Game links: Live Stats | ESPN+ 
Notes: The Vikings will face the Wildcats for the second straight year, marking just the second meeting in program history. The two teams first met on August 22, 2024, with Kansas State earning a 2-0 victory in Hillsboro. The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 3-12-3 record and are now led by first-year head coach Colleen Corbin.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Vikings finished the 2024 season with a 4-9-5 overall record, including a 2-3-3 mark in Big Sky play to place sixth and earn a third consecutive Big Sky Tournament berth.
• Reached the Big Sky semifinals for the second straight year, advancing past Eastern Washington in a dramatic opening-round shootout by converting all 7 penalty kicks, before falling 2-1 to Idaho.
• Five Vikings earned All-Big Sky honors, the program's most in a single season since 2014.
• Posted four shutouts and held opponents to just 19 goals during the regular season, the program's lowest number since 2014.
• The Vikings graduated five seniors in 2024, all of which were starters during the 2024 season.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

• Despite graduating five key seniors last season, Portland State returns 22 players from its 024 roster.
• Four of the Vikings' five 2024 all-conference selections are back: Liv Frazier, Elle Frazier, Aliayha Saldana, and Kalo Iongi.
• The Vikings boast a strong veteran presence, with nine players entering the season with three or more years of collegiate experience.
• The 2025 roster includes five newcomers: three true freshmen — Claire Masters, Bianca Potesta, and Wynn Farrell — and two transfers, Josie DeLine and Addi Sebren.

KEY RETURNERS

• Aliayha Saldana and Liv Frazier were both named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team earlier this week.
• Saldana had a standout freshman season for the Vikings, becoming the first player in program history to be named Big Sky Freshman of the Year. She also earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a forward, tallying three goals, two assists, and a Big Sky-best 3.28 shots per game.
• Frazier, a senior defender for the Vikings, was a First Team All-Big Sky selection in 2024. She returns to anchor a back line that posted four shutouts and allowed just 19 goals — the program's fewest in a season since 2014.
• 2024 Second Team All-Big Sky defender, Kalo Iongi, will join Frazier on the back line for her senior season in 2025. Iongi tallied 32 shots with 13 shots on-goal last season and played a crucial role in the Vikings' defensive success.
• Elle Frazier, a three-year starter for the Vikings and a 2024 Second Team All-Big Sky forward, will utilize her medical redshirt this season.
• Senior Ocean Rideout is expected to play a key role offensively for the Vikings this season. She started 16 of 18 matches in 2024, contributing one goal and one assist. The speedy forward also led the team with a .571 shot-on-goal percentage (16-of-28).
• Sophomore Grace Sarabia will suit up for her sophomore season in 2025 after seeing ample playing time on the back line as a freshman—starting 11 matches and clocking 1100 minutes of action
• The Vikings' roster features three returning goalkeepers, led by experienced redshirt junior Natalie Cunningham. She has started 16 matches in her collegiate career, posting a 7-8-2 record. In 2024, she made five starts and recorded 26 saves.

NEWCOMER NOTES

• Bianca Potesta (Fr., MF): Seattle, Wash. | Two-time First Team Metro League selection at Ballard High School
• Josie DeLine (Jr., D): Corbett, Ore. | Transferred from Weber State (two seasons)... all-Conference selection and three-time conference champion at Sam Barlow High School
• Addi Sebren (RS-Fr., D): Gig Harbor, Wash. | Transfer from UT Rio Grande Valley..did not appear in any matches as a freshman at UTRGV...attended Peninsula High School
• Claire Masters (Fr., F): Tigard, Ore. | Two-time all-league forward at Tigard High School...second Team All-State in 2024...also a member of the Portland State softball team
• Wynn Farrell (Fr., MF): Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Attended San Clemente High School...second Team All-League...2022–23 Crestview League champion